Whatcha Think of This 1873-S Seated Half Dime?
Rob41281
Posts: 2,399 ✭✭✭✭✭
Rob41281
Posts: 2,399 ✭✭✭✭✭
Rob41281
Posts: 2,399 ✭✭✭✭✭
Comments
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Almost Takes eyes like this to see a halfdime.
But I do Love it!
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Ummm, UBER SWEET!
73-S isnt as easy as everyone thinks. Most place it in the availability category of the 72-S, but in my experience it is much harder, especially original and in higher grades.
I am still looking for one for my S mint seated half dime run....
I'm envious!
siliconvalleycoins.com
Obv. Heavy, even date; well placed.
Rev. Large S rather close to knot. Both ends of ribbon about touch.
It is ‘rather’ difficult to make a positive attribution from that vague description.
Fortunately, collectors and students of the series who belong to the Liberty Seated Collectors Club have made some interesting discoveries for this date in recent years, adding two new die marriages to the list of known ‘varieties’.
Valentine’s V1 is most often seen with a large die chip on the obverse, on Miss Liberty’s left arm (holding pole), resulting in a prominent raised ‘lump’. This can be readily seen on your pictured example. I should point out, however, that the lump is not present in the Valentine 1873-S V1 photographic plate, suggesting either that the die chip occurred late in the die life, or that there are two different dies represented here. More research is needed on this.
In July of 1989, noted numismatist Bill Fivaz discovered a new obverse die for the 1873-S date, with a large die crack running through the bases of the date numerals, and to the rim under the 3. Of course, the mere presence of a die crack does not necessarily signify a new die marriage, but would more likely suggest a new die state. However, Mr. Fivaz correctly identified a different date position for this obverse die, and this die marriage has now been designated V2 in the Valentine sequence. This die marriage is also seen with a 30° CCW die rotation. This die marriage is written up in the July 1989 Issue (#45) of the Gobrecht Journal.
In July of 1996, Don Hanson detailed a new discovery for the 1873-S half dime in Issue #66 of the Gobrecht Journal. On this new obverse die, now designated V3, there is a distinct horizontal bar visible inside of the lower loop of the 8 in the date. It has come to be known as the “Bar 8” variety.
As to availability of the 1873-S half dime, availability, of course, is always a function of grade, but I think I must agree more with Coinlieutenant ("73-S isnt as easy as everyone thinks. Most place it in the availability category of the 72-S, but in my experience it is much harder, especially original and in higher grades") than Realone ("I disagree the 1873-s V-1 is common, sorry") on this. In a quick survey of eBay and several dealer’s websites, I could find just five examples of the 1873-S half dime in all grades. eBay presently has three examples of the V1 (all with the raised die lump on the arm), one in mint state, one called mint state by the seller, but with many obverse die scratches (net AU at best), and one in EF. Dick Osburn has one example, listed as a V2 with the die crack under the date numerals, in AU-50, although there is no picture. And Rich Uhrich lists one example in VF-30 which just might be an example of the V3 Bar 8, as I think I can see a remnant of the horizontal bar in the lower loop of the 8. J. J. Teaparty, New Orleans Rare Coins, Dr. Eugene Bruder, Brian Greer, Coin Rarities On-line, Northeast Coin, Miller’s Mint, and The Executive Coin Company all have no examples of the 1873-S half dime presently listed, in any grade.
May I add my kudos to your new acquisition, a truly gorgeous and beautifully toned example of the last Liberty Seated half dime.
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