1844-O Half Dime - Is this a rare variety or just some sort of mark on this coin?

ms70

Take a look at the tiny little "o" that is to the right of Liberty's leg, half way between the knee & ankle. Rare variety or just something that doesn't belong there?

Scroll down & click on the pics for a big pic.

ms70

ttt. Checked a few reference sites but couldn't find anything. BIG PIC!

ms70

That's fine, just ignore me.

Cladiator

It really does look like a tiny little O doesn't it? LOL

My gut instinct tells me it's just a mark of somesort and not a floating letter. Weird things can happen. I once had a Bust Half Dollar with a tiny mark near the date that looked exactly like a 3.

Remember, I know pretty much next to nothing about Seated Half Dimes, just an opinion...


edited to add: Rheddon or Mr.HalfDime could answer your question much better than I.

MrHalfDime

Without the actual coin in hand, I cannot say definitively what we are seeing to the right of Miss Liberty's leg that looks like a mini O. I can only state that there are two KNOWN die marriages for the 1844-O half dime, a scarce date in its own right. The Valentine V1, with the Large O (1.1 mm) mint mark, as seen on the Heritage coin, and the V2 Small O (0.8 mm) mint mark. There is another die state of the V2, known as V2a, with the dies rotated 180°, or medal rotation. The Heritage coin you linked to appears to be the V1, Large O, and there is no known misplaced mint mark or other anomaly on that obverse die resembling what we see on that coin. It is my guess that what we are seeing is unique to that specific coin, perhaps a spot in the toning.

It is possible that this could be a new, never before seen obverse die, with the 'Small O' on the obverse, but that is highly unlikely. It is impossible to see, in a two dimensional computer image, if the 'Small O' is in relief. Whatever it is, it is significantly smaller than the 0.8 mm O mint mark punch, or any other punch that the die sinker would have had available to him.

My best guess is that Cladiator is right - it is merely a spot on the surface of this specific coin, and not a misplaced letter or numeral, nor mint caused.

FredWeinberg

It appears to be a small carbon spot, surrounded by
a "moisture" circle - which probably caused the
darket spot in the center of the whole area..........

Just my opinion......

ms70

Thank you gentlemen!