Capped Bust Half Dime Attribution Challenge - OctVember 2024

Bikergeek

Your challenge, should you choose to accept it: to identify the Logan-McCloskey (LM) varieties for these nine half dimes, dated 1829 through 1837. I'm a day late for October, despite the engagement of friends like @Stefan (who suggested one that was too hard, and another that I felt too easy) and @jesbroken (who spoon fed me a delightful 1830 - but I promised I wouldn't do 1830 after the August and September challenges!) I also reserve the right to do another in November. Thus, OctVember.

I've made it a little challenging by only including the reverses here.

A die marriage is a unique pairing of one obverse die with one reverse die. Note that half dimes have documented die REmarriages - which is when those dies are reused after one of them was paired with a different mate for a period of time. Marriages are identified by LM-n where n is the marriage identifier (e.g., LM-3). If the dies were separated and then remarried, this adds a decimal number: "LM-n.y" shows the number of the remarriage in the y position (e.g., LM-10.4). Some of the coins in this challenge require you to identify the remarriage.

How to attribute? The Logan-McCloskey book "Federal Half Dimes 1792-1837" is authoritative. Or, you can use EverythingHalfDimes.com. Some folks have their own tools or cheatsheets.

Good luck. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds.

1829

1830

1831

1832

1833

1834

1835

1836

1837

Married2Coins

I guess we need the book so that let's me out.

yosclimber

Thank you for the challenge, and the cool die cracks.
It took me 31 minutes - nice to finally have my LM book at hand again.
I sent my answers by PM to @Bikergeek, to avoid spoiling the challenge for others.

Bikergeek

@Married2Coins this is a decent resource: http://www.everythinghalfdimes.com/attribute-my-half-dime.html

Copperindian

Great thread Sean; I’m hopelessly lost as usual with these!
Ken

tcollects

wow this is unexpectedly tough

hummingbird_coins

Did not post my answers here but here's a bump so more people see it

jesbroken

29-LM-3...CUD above IT and C-1 touches A-3
30-LM-14..S3 centered under E2
31-LM-1.1..Edge starting to crumble A3-5C, S2 upper loop filled but S1 not yet filled preventing LM-1.2
** 32-LM-10.4 CUD T3 to scroll and thru A2 to scroll **
33-LM-4.3
34-LM-1
35-LM-1
36-LM-5
37-LM-5
Don't embarass me too much. Too late.
Jim

Cladiator

Fun thread. I used to have a die state study collection of the the 32 marriage in an earlier life. It was super fun but most of my examples were pretty low grade.

The 31 is simply stunning, I'd love to see it's other side.

The 29 and 37 look familiar.

jesbroken

I once had a photo of an 1837 LM-5 with a super heavy Rim to A2 die crack. Can't find it. Wondered why that didn't make an LM-5.2 at that time.
Jim

Married2Coins

@Bikergeek said:
@Married2Coins this is a decent resource: http://www.everythinghalfdimes.com/attribute-my-half-dime.html

Thanks. Never heard of this one. I'm sure the quiz has been answered correctly already. That's a very nice collection if they are your coins.

yosclimber

@jesbroken said:
I once had a photo of an 1837 LM-5 with a super heavy Rim to A2 die crack. Can't find it. Wondered why that didn't make an LM-5.2 at that time.

The LM-5.2 designation is for a remarriage, not just for a late die state.
To qualify as a remarriage, the reverse MM would need to have been used with a different obverse before being repaired with the LM-5 obverse 2.
That is, the use of reverse MM would need to be something like:
LM 5.1 - Obv 2.2 x Rev MM.1
LM x.x - Obv something x Rev MM.2
LM 5.2 - Obv 2.3 x Rev MM.3

jesbroken

@yosclimber
Thanks, but Sean had explained that to me when I first started collecting. That's why I said at that time when I first ran across the photo. I'm sure your explanation will be appreciated by those unaware.
Jim

Bikergeek

@jesbroken - you got 8 out of 9... I'm not gonna say which! heheheh

Bikergeek

@Married2Coins said:

@Bikergeek said:
@Married2Coins this is a decent resource: http://www.everythinghalfdimes.com/attribute-my-half-dime.html

That's a very nice collection if they are your coins.

Most are mine, and I appreciate your kind words! One of them is not mine and, truth be told, I covet it. But I'm happy when my friends have nice coins too so I don't lose sleep over it!

jesbroken

Corrected.
Jim

jesbroken

Well, since no one else is playing and it's been 72+ hours, which coin do I win? Any will be fine.
Thanks for the game.
Jim

Bikergeek

@jesbroken said:
Well, since no one else is playing and it's been 72+ hours, which coin do I win? Any will be fine.
Thanks for the game.
Jim

It breaks my heart to tell ya, @yosclimber and @hummingbird_coins were #1 and #2 respectively. They each win a 2024 Cadillac. Prize for #3 is a set of steak knives.

jesbroken

No thanks, I would probably just cut my throat with a knife over the loss. Rats, just my luck.
Ok moving on, whats the next Half Dime to attribute. Love it. Thanks brother.
Jim

yosclimber

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbp3ozjl-qM
Glengarry Glenn Ross had the prizes just slightly different....

Bikergeek

@yosclimber picked up the reference in a heartbeat! Funny stuff!