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1812 bustie - doubled profile
zap1111
Posts: 1,298 ✭✭
I put up the close up below in another thread while testing photobucket. I thought I'd try posting shots (from the original purchase) of the coin as well in a new posting. The coin is an 1812 O.107, a die variety known for various states of die clashing on the reverse. I think this variety is one of the coolest in the whole series. I mean just look at the lettering in the shield, and all of the fun in the fields - amazing! I had already purchased a few of this variety when this one came along with the doubled profile on the obverse. I had to have it, so I paid a premium for the coin but feel it was absolutely worth it. I daresay this is a very unique coin - a whacked out reverse (not that unusual for this variety) with the incredibly wide double profile.
zap1111
102 capped bust half dollars - 100 die marriages
BHNC #198
102 capped bust half dollars - 100 die marriages
BHNC #198
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siliconvalleycoins.com
That is some real dramatic stuff going on on that face.
Sweet coin and nice pickup
U.S. Type Set
Really....
If you ever let her go----give me a crack at her.
I love the reverse die clashes!!
-Amanda
I'm a YN working on a type set!
My Buffalo Nickel Website Home of the Quirky Buffaloes Collection!
Proud member of the CUFYNA
Fantastic coin
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
<< <i>VERY nice!!!
What's doubled? I see 4 of em
WOW - That is completely nuts.
Is she raw or slabbed? The doubling is so big, it could carry 2 grades, one for each profile
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Discoverer of 1919 Mercury Dime DDO - FS-101
Very nice pickup
Steve
I wonder how the word LIBERTY was clashed so near the center, rather than spaced properly about midway between the center and rim. How did it get clashed twice, and so far apart? The rotation makes it even more interesting. What is that blob above the left wing?
Russ Logan would have had all the answers for us.
If it is the same one, then I lost the coin at auction as I wasn't comfortable at the time how high to go. I would be now though.
And it would most likely be double or more for what it went for. Congratulations!!!
It was an earlier 1812 O.107 that truly pulled me into the bust half series. I had picked up the 1830-34 coins on whims, enjoying the look and the toning on them, then I found a 1812 in a coin shop in Duluth that had all that weird action on the reverse. At the time, I didn't know what a clash mark was. I sent a jpeg off to Heritage and a nice response clarified what was going on with the variety and from there on in I was hooked. I've picked up about 55 die varieties now and am hooked for life. I later picked up a single clash version in AU55 (1812 O. 107) with indigo and golden retoning. Then this double profile came along!
So now I have three specimens of this particular variety - a single clash, double clash or triple clash on the reverse. It's a very interesting study in the progression of the use of the die.
102 capped bust half dollars - 100 die marriages
BHNC #198
Very interesting coin. I have never seen anything close to that with respect to the clash and doubling. Very nice.
I've heard of this Brad Higgins you speak of, and I can assure you that he is a most unsavory character. Stay away! I am familiar in passing with some of his coins, and I remember that one.
He acquired it at the BHNC corn roast in 2001 from a fellow member for $250. Yes, back in the olden days, coins were more affordable. Have you noticed the doubling on stars 1-3? As for the clashing on the reverse, Brad Karoleff did an extensive study of this phenomenon over the course of a couple years and published it in JRJ sometime in the 90s. It has been speculated that the mint had trouble with the feeder mechanism, which jammed repeatedly in the early teens, and this is why you see so many clashed 12s-14s. Brad further determined that many times, the clash marks were lapped off, only to repeatedly reappear, frustrating the mint's best efforts. The lump above the left wing was caused by something being jammed between the dies with no planchet being present. How could it only leave an impression on one die? It couldn't! There is also an impression on the obverse at the front base of the neck. Since this is a high spot of the coin, it is worn off on many circulated coins. I posed this to some more senior members, but was rejected because the lumps don't line up exactly. Brad K and I made some tracing on clear acetate imprinted with the reverse die and followed the clashes around until the lumps lined up on both obverse and reverse, and lined up with a set of clash marks, which proved that at one point in time when some unknown object fell on the reverse (anvil) die, the obverse (hammer) die came down and left that impact mark on both dies. Later, this same obverse was paired with another reverse to coin O.108, and the obverse mark is also visible on high grade 108s.
You own a pretty interesting coin! You may never find one with such a wild double profile, but don't stop looking.
Thanks for filling in a bit of history for me on this coin! I appreciate that. I've read the Karoleff article on the 1812 O.107 progression of die states/clash marks and it's fascinating. I must say I have a sweet spot for this variety and study each one that shows up in the various internet auctions.
I had noticed the obverse mark you mention that corresponds to the reverse mark above the left wing on two of my three coins, so it was fun to hear of your work to authenticate its generation. Another interesting mark is just below the ear (you can see it clearly on the closeup I posted); this one almost looks doubled in hand on this particular coin, and it shows up on the triple clash version I have as well, but not on the single clash. I'll try to post some closeups of those other two coins sometime for comparison.
As far as Brad Higgins is concerned, all I can say is that he corresponded with me after the purchase, sharing information and excitement for the coin (including the doubling on stars 1-3), and that as a novice collector at the time, I was impressed that he'd take the time to do so. And although he sure seems to generate some good natured commentary about his character, I'll hold off on any other assessment until I can meet the man!
102 capped bust half dollars - 100 die marriages
BHNC #198
Nice!
If I am seeing things correctly, this coin is reverse stage 7, not yet stage 8 which is the stage thought to have been made just before the die was retired. The letters LIB are clashed over the BER clashed letters in stage 8. The article makes no mention of the obverse double profile, but then why should it, since this doubling was not part of the die clashing.
My 1812 O-107 is in the bank, so all I know is that it has a 45 degree rotation, and no obverse doubling.
And congrats again on a real nice coin/piece of history.