When I look at your lovely half dime, I see not only an attractive coin, but also a specific die marriage which just begs to be attributed; it is a curse that we die marriage collectors learn to live with. Your coin appears to be an example of the Valentine V5, based upon the Shield Point (SP) placement, over the right half of the 8 in the date. The V5 is the only 1840 (P) half dime with the shield point that far to the right. However, the specific alignment of the four date numerals relative to the dentils below do not seem to align precisely with my notes.
I have been trying to assemble a complete collection of all of the 1840 half dimes, which include at least eight (8) die marriages from the Philadelphia Mint, and fully ten (10) die marriages from the New Orleans Mint. I completed that collection several years ago, but I am now trying to upgrade them all to high AU - low mint state grades, and it is proving to be quite difficult. My present best 1840 V5 is MS-63, but some of the better New Orleans die marriages are extremely elusive in higher grade; some of mine are no better than EF, and the 1840 V1 is proving to be the most difficult, with my best coin only a VF-35.
I would venture a guess for your coin at AU-55, although I do not like to grade a three dimensional object from a two dimensional image. Very nice coin, no matter what.
They that can give up essential Liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither Liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin
I see what you are seeing, LanLord, but as you state, the No Drapery design was dramatically changed later in the year, and all 1849 half dimes are of the Robert Ball Hughes design. It appears that the mottled toning is causing the anomolies you see in the 0 of the date, making it appear like a 9.
They that can give up essential Liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither Liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin
Rob41281
Posts: 2,392 ✭✭✭✭✭
Grade guesses?
Comments
nice pic
MS63
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I have been trying to assemble a complete collection of all of the 1840 half dimes, which include at least eight (8) die marriages from the Philadelphia Mint, and fully ten (10) die marriages from the New Orleans Mint. I completed that collection several years ago, but I am now trying to upgrade them all to high AU - low mint state grades, and it is proving to be quite difficult. My present best 1840 V5 is MS-63, but some of the better New Orleans die marriages are extremely elusive in higher grade; some of mine are no better than EF, and the 1840 V1 is proving to be the most difficult, with my best coin only a VF-35.
I would venture a guess for your coin at AU-55, although I do not like to grade a three dimensional object from a two dimensional image. Very nice coin, no matter what.
Maybe it's the lighting, maybe it's the plastic, but every time I look, I see a mid-digit loop rather than a 0!
Hoard the keys.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/rs8199/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=