Why so many SM Date 1837 Half Dimes at B+M ANA auction?

GAB

I was under the impression that the SM Dates were the rarer of the 2?

Here's a Large Date for comparison: I really don't see any difference in the SIZE of the date,
but the 1's are definitely different.

Barndog

check out some of MrHalfDime's past threads on the subject -- you are right that the difference is not necessarily the size of the date, but the "old style" 1 in the date (like the 1837 bust half dime used) vs. the flat-top one in the date.