I first narrowed it down to 1860-S to 1862-S, given the large S mint mark (1863-S to 1866-S have a much smaller S).
Then, I further narrowed it down to 1860-S, given the shape of the numerals in the date.
Note in particular that the counters in the "8" are wider and more circular in the 1860-S, with the upper counter more or less a perfect circle (these same counters are narrower and more oval-shaped on the 1861-S/1862-S). Also, the tail of the "6" doesn't hang quite as far over the loop on the 1860-S as it does on the other years.
The mint mark has been smushed a bit by the boring of the hole, but it looks like the WB-2 Medium S variety (the S mint mark is slightly smaller and shaped differently than the Large S variety of the same date). The date placement fits for the Medium S variety, as well.
of course we are going to have various positions from various marriages from year-to-year but i really think that your coin is closer to 62-s just form these images.
the results below will have variance from image dimensions but the 62-s vs yours is pretty substantial difference.!
looks like you are doing good work though. best to use the book or online resource to all the known date-position images.
@LanceNewmanOCC said:
i really think that your coin is closer to 62-s just form these images.
With all due consideration, the OP coin is clearly an 1860-S. The best match for the shape of the "6" is the 1860-S, as I noted above, with the 1860-S also being the best match for the "8" and the date placement.
You can go wrong very easily (and it appears you have, in this case) by simply comparing the size of features between photos that are not exactly to the same scale to begin with.
if it is a 60-s, it is a different die. obviously the 8 matches from the 60-s but that 6, while different is much skinnier and slightly different in style. each are different around the necks and the ball-serifs.
i MAY dig further into it after my dinner settles just to see how many different obv dies we are even talking about. if not too many and the images are sufficient or not too hard to find, i'll post some more results but i wouldn't say 100% in this instance from any of these images considering how different different dies from the same year can be.
fwiw, when i made my first comment, i was referring other diagnostics, not the date/mm although they are MAY be all that is needed in this instance. other diagnostics usually just makes it a bit easier/quicker from high-res images and/or coin(s) in-hand.
from the image with the measurements, the 60-s is the widest of all the coins posted. nearly 140 with the others being around 135.
@LanceNewmanOCC said:
if it is a 60-s, it is a different die. obviously the 8 matches from the 60-s but that 6, while different is much skinnier and slightly different in style. each are different around the necks and the ball-serifs.
In the case of the OP coin, there is a big bore hole next to the "6", so it may be slightly smushed, as well. With that kind of disturbance right next to it, I think you have to make allowances for it looking slightly off. Looking at that "6", as a whole, the best match is still the 1860-S.
the marriage with that medium S is probably the one from the OP. secondary pups would be nice for confirmation but much more difficult probably. nice work.
@LanceNewmanOCC said:
the marriage with that medium S is probably the one from the OP. secondary pups would be nice for confirmation but much more difficult probably. nice work.
@LanceNewmanOCC said:
the marriage with that medium S is probably the one from the OP. secondary pups would be nice for confirmation but much more difficult probably. nice work.
Already did so with obverse date placement.
From my earlier post:
i was thinking (not knowing all the marriages off the top of my head) there could be more than one medium S with that date position. i usually don't rest until i'm 100% with these things and secondary pups i refer to are gouges/clashes etc. it looks like you nailed the date anyway even if there is another marriage with similar date/mm.
once you've gone down the vam road (6000+ varieties), date and mm matching are quite often not enough, so my battle scars from vamming roll over onto other series.
it woulda been nice if this work would have uncovered a scarce marriage or SUPER scarce date/mm.
Comments
if one spends enough time, i'm confident this can be narrowed to the precise year/marriage.
What a shame!
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I first narrowed it down to 1860-S to 1862-S, given the large S mint mark (1863-S to 1866-S have a much smaller S).
Then, I further narrowed it down to 1860-S, given the shape of the numerals in the date.
Note in particular that the counters in the "8" are wider and more circular in the 1860-S, with the upper counter more or less a perfect circle (these same counters are narrower and more oval-shaped on the 1861-S/1862-S). Also, the tail of the "6" doesn't hang quite as far over the loop on the 1860-S as it does on the other years.
@IkesT Eldo’s thread about identifying obverse from reverse really made you too good at this lol
Coin Photographer.
The mint mark has been smushed a bit by the boring of the hole, but it looks like the WB-2 Medium S variety (the S mint mark is slightly smaller and shaped differently than the Large S variety of the same date). The date placement fits for the Medium S variety, as well.
of course we are going to have various positions from various marriages from year-to-year but i really think that your coin is closer to 62-s just form these images.
the results below will have variance from image dimensions but the 62-s vs yours is pretty substantial difference.!
looks like you are doing good work though. best to use the book or online resource to all the known date-position images.
With all due consideration, the OP coin is clearly an 1860-S. The best match for the shape of the "6" is the 1860-S, as I noted above, with the 1860-S also being the best match for the "8" and the date placement.
You can go wrong very easily (and it appears you have, in this case) by simply comparing the size of features between photos that are not exactly to the same scale to begin with.
if it is a 60-s, it is a different die. obviously the 8 matches from the 60-s but that 6, while different is much skinnier and slightly different in style. each are different around the necks and the ball-serifs.
i MAY dig further into it after my dinner settles just to see how many different obv dies we are even talking about. if not too many and the images are sufficient or not too hard to find, i'll post some more results but i wouldn't say 100% in this instance from any of these images considering how different different dies from the same year can be.
fwiw, when i made my first comment, i was referring other diagnostics, not the date/mm although they are MAY be all that is needed in this instance. other diagnostics usually just makes it a bit easier/quicker from high-res images and/or coin(s) in-hand.
from the image with the measurements, the 60-s is the widest of all the coins posted. nearly 140 with the others being around 135.
look forward to seeing how this turns out though.
In the case of the OP coin, there is a big bore hole next to the "6", so it may be slightly smushed, as well. With that kind of disturbance right next to it, I think you have to make allowances for it looking slightly off. Looking at that "6", as a whole, the best match is still the 1860-S.
Reverse, 1860-S 50c Medium S vs. OP coin:
the marriage with that medium S is probably the one from the OP. secondary pups would be nice for confirmation but much more difficult probably. nice work.
Already did so with obverse date placement.
From my earlier post:
i was thinking (not knowing all the marriages off the top of my head) there could be more than one medium S with that date position. i usually don't rest until i'm 100% with these things and secondary pups i refer to are gouges/clashes etc. it looks like you nailed the date anyway even if there is another marriage with similar date/mm.
once you've gone down the vam road (6000+ varieties), date and mm matching are quite often not enough, so my battle scars from vamming roll over onto other series.
it woulda been nice if this work would have uncovered a scarce marriage or SUPER scarce date/mm.
Great detective work on that coin! It just proves that if you know enough about diagnostics in a coin series, anything is possible.
And also kudos for an excellent explanation.
Pete
Thank you all! Excellent information!
Some seriously cool detective work here!
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please direct me to the forum for novices, this is way out of my league!
@IkesT ... Superb detective work.... Thanks for that investigative journey to identifying the date on the OP coin. Cheers, RickO
OK !! When were the holes made? !!!!