Numis Quiz/Dating "no date" Errors

shylock

I always get a kick out of trying to date "No Date" IH errors based on design quirks, known variety traits, or die conditions of certain years. It's usually impossible, but sometimes you can narrow the dates down. Heritage has started listing some neat errors for their Pittsburgh ANA sale, like this Uniface No Date IH struck on a Half Dime Planchet. They state:

"As this is struck on a half dime planchet, it would not have been produced after 1873. The reverse has the earlier T-shaped center strokes to each E in ONE CENT, suggesting that this is dated prior to 1870."

I like the fact that the cataloger is playing along with me! But can you narrow this error down to only two possible dates?


Another one is this No Date 60 percent Off-Center IH. Again, the cataloger is playing along:

"This is from the Type Two Indian cent hub used from 1886 through 1909, thus narrowing the possible choice of dates. Further, the reverse has a heavy die crack through the lower outside leaves of the right branch, and into the arrowheads. It is certainly possible that the observant Indian cent collector may be able to match this die crack to some normally struck Indian cent, thus proving the actual date."

I haven't a clue, maybe some of the IH collectors on the forum could help with this one.

seanq

Just judging by how scarce the Philly half-dimes are from 1863 to 1867, I would narrow it down to 1868 or 1869. I've seen an 1869 Indian struck on a dime planchet before, which is more circumstantial evidence for that two-year window.

Out of curiosity, where are you finding these listings? I checked the Heritage site and can't find the Pitt ANA sale there. Are there any nice type clips listed?


Sean Reynolds

Russ

Very cool. Sometimes when I see these, I wonder if they were done deliberately by mint employees having a little fun. I know I'd be tempted.

Russ, NCNE

tjkillian

Well, the strong "N" in ONE suggests an earlier date, pre-1870. Is that the clue you are looking for?

Tom

shylock

Sean - They have a small portion of the Pitt. sale up under Auction Previews.

Tom - You're on the right track...

shylock

Russ - I wonder about that myself, especially when it comes to wrong planchets. I'd love to hear the story behind those early 1900 IH's struck on gold planchets, like the one ANR just offered.

shylock

The lack of interest is deafening, but here's the answer anyway

The only two years that the "Uniface No Date IH struck on a Half Dime Planchet" could have been created were 1860 or 1861. It bears the "Flat N" of ONE that was used only on the copper-nickel IH's of those two dates.

braddick

I've heard of an Indian cent struck on a gold planchet ($2 1/2?).