United States Half Dime Books - Recommendation??

RTS

If you had to choose between the following two books which book is the winner and why or maybe both books are a must-have - comments much appreciated - thank you.

United States Half Dimes - Daniel W Valentine / Federal Half Dimes 1792 - 1837 - Russell Logan and John W. McCloskey

Barndog

If you collect early or capped bust half dimes, the Logan-McCloskey book is a must have. If you collect seated half dimes, the Logan-McCloskey book doesn't address those, so there's the rub.

tmot99

I have both. The only reason I have the LM book is because I own one of the plate coins. I primarily collect seated half dimes.

BillJones

If you are only going to own one, I would pick the Federal Half Dime book by Logan and McClosky hands down.

The Valentine book was the pioneering work, and it was actually quite well done for its time. But Logan and McClosky is the modern work with more varieties, better rarity information and better plates.

Actually Quarterman published a better version of the Valentine book back in the 1970s. That one had more articles and information in it. When I reviewed a copy of the book you have pictured in your post I was rather disappointed in the fact that it had fewer articles.

Cladiator

Got 'em both. For Bust Half Dimes the LM is essential.

MrHalfDime

Depending upon your area of interest, both books might be warranted. Certainly the Logan/McCloskey "Federal Half Dimes 1792 - 1837" is the definitive reference for the early Bust half dimes. It not only covers each die marriage for the Flowing Hair, Draped Bust and Capped Bust series, including many not known to Dr. Valentine in 1931, but it also contains valuable chapters on the early minting processes, attribution, and emission sequences, often overlooked by students of the series. I must agree with the comment by Bill Jones regarding the Quarterman 1975 reprint of the Valentine reference. It is a higher quality product than the Durst reprint pictured, with superior photographic plates, and contains the early works by Newlin and Neil, and also excellent supplements by Doug Winter, David Davis, Kam Ahwash, and Walter Breen not included in the Sanford Durst 1984 reprint. If you collect the Liberty Seated half dimes, the Valentine reference is a must, and the Quarterman reprint is recommended. Of course, if you can find an original Valentine, published by the American Numismatic Society in 1931 as part of their ongoing series "Numismatic Notes and Monographs #48", I would recommend purchasing it for its superior photographic plates. They run around $100+ when they can be found, but if you are a serious student of the half dimes, it is recommended.

Al Blythe's "Complete Guide to the Liberty Seated Half Dimes" is a good supplement to the Valentine reference, although it is not a comprehensive work on the series. To date, we really do not have a comprehensive reference work on the Liberty Seated half dimes, in the manner of the Logan/McCloskey book on the Bust half dimes, but I hope that situation will soon change.

slumlord98

<< <i>but I hope that situation will soon change. >>



MrHalfDime,

You're playing this mighty close to the vest!

Cladiator

LanLord

I have both.

Valentine is better, but I like having the ability to cross reference.

RTS

Thank you all for the comments - I do not collect half-dimes but want a nice reference/library book on the subject - it seems like the Russell Logan-John W. McCloskey book along with the Quarterman 1975 publication of the Valentine book will be an enjoyable pair of half-dime books.