Bust half question

SanctionII

Back in the 1970's, while in college, I bought a raw 1830 Bust Half. In the Redook the 1830 half is listed with small letters and with large letters. I am curious about which one mine is. How can one tell if the lettering is small or large? Does any one have pictures of same that they could post?

Nysoto

There is a 99.927% chance your 1830 bust half has a small letters reverse, as the large letters is from only 1 of the 23 die marriages for the year, and this O.114 variety is an R.5+, (31-40 or so known). The mintage for the year is 4,764,800, and the survival rate for these is about 1%.

The same large letters reverse die was first used in 1828. The O.114 will have a small 0, as do 19 of the varieties for the year. I don't have an Overton book with me, perhaps someone else with the book can give you some diagnostics from O.114, or post a small letter 1830 for comparison. There is an 1830 small letters image on the "coin facts" website.

The 1830 large letters reverse is a recent addition to the Redbook varieties for the year.

OKbustchaser

As Nysoto said, it more than likely will not be the large letter, but just in case, note the way that United and States run together. On all other 1830 reverses there is much more of a gap.

Baley

small letters:



this one's an O.105 (small 0 in date)

tmot99

Baley - that is one awesome bust half.

SanctionII

Thanks for your imformative replies and the picturs. After comparing my half with the pictures, it is obvious that it has small letters. However, it does have a 0 in the date that is larger than the 183. I assmue that this is a large 0 variety. The coin has nice reverse toning, golden/light brown in color with slight multi colored toning around the reverse rim. The obverse has the same golden/light brown toning as the reverse but is much less in degree. All in all very pleasing to the eye.