1852-O Half Dime - Recently Graded
MFH
Posts: 11,720 ✭✭✭✭
Back in late 1944 - early 1945 my Dad who was in the Army
was in charge of requisitions and his Division took command
of a castle in Germany.
Our troops found the residence abandoned and my Dad picked
out an office for himself that contained a very elaborate hand carved
desk with many locked doors and cubicles. Using his bayonett, he
pryed open these doors and the drawers of this desk - "just in case".
My Dad said he was as careful as he could be because it was one
of the nicest pieces of furniture he had ever seen.
Once the desk was completely opened, he discovered many Nazi
medals [ the one he got the biggest kick out of was one for having
so many children for the Fatherland ]. My Dad gave away all the medals
to his troops - but he noticed a very unusual coin hidden in one of the
compartments. It was so small he almost over looked it.
As Dad had never seen a Half Dime before - he thought the denomination
odd - but a Half Dime is worth Five Cents - the price of an ice cream cone
at Kelly's Landing in Boston. So, he slipped it into his uniform pocket - and
after the war, while going thru his uniform, he rediscovered it. He simply
put it in his bureau drawer - where it sat [ thru three moves and many
years ] until I started collecting - and the little Half Dime was again brought
to light.
While my Dad was still alive, I wanted to send the coin into PCGS for grading;
I wish I had, but I just never did. Recently, the coin was graded and I had it
imaged by Messy Desk .
My friend Glenn Holsonbake asked that I show the coin to a New Orleans coin expert
[ whose name I neglected to jot down, sorry ] and both he and Glenn got a big kick out
of this tiny coin. It seems as though this coin is a V 2 - and its an R 5. The expert collector/
dealer said it was the finest V 3 and the top pop for this variety. There is a die crack from
Star One to the Hand of Liberty.
I wish Dad could still be with us to share this news. But, having this Half Dime is like
having a small part of him with me.
edited to change designation from J 3 to V 3 - then again, I could be wrong as I don't collect this series.
was in charge of requisitions and his Division took command
of a castle in Germany.
Our troops found the residence abandoned and my Dad picked
out an office for himself that contained a very elaborate hand carved
desk with many locked doors and cubicles. Using his bayonett, he
pryed open these doors and the drawers of this desk - "just in case".
My Dad said he was as careful as he could be because it was one
of the nicest pieces of furniture he had ever seen.
Once the desk was completely opened, he discovered many Nazi
medals [ the one he got the biggest kick out of was one for having
so many children for the Fatherland ]. My Dad gave away all the medals
to his troops - but he noticed a very unusual coin hidden in one of the
compartments. It was so small he almost over looked it.
As Dad had never seen a Half Dime before - he thought the denomination
odd - but a Half Dime is worth Five Cents - the price of an ice cream cone
at Kelly's Landing in Boston. So, he slipped it into his uniform pocket - and
after the war, while going thru his uniform, he rediscovered it. He simply
put it in his bureau drawer - where it sat [ thru three moves and many
years ] until I started collecting - and the little Half Dime was again brought
to light.
While my Dad was still alive, I wanted to send the coin into PCGS for grading;
I wish I had, but I just never did. Recently, the coin was graded and I had it
imaged by Messy Desk .
My friend Glenn Holsonbake asked that I show the coin to a New Orleans coin expert
[ whose name I neglected to jot down, sorry ] and both he and Glenn got a big kick out
of this tiny coin. It seems as though this coin is a V 2 - and its an R 5. The expert collector/
dealer said it was the finest V 3 and the top pop for this variety. There is a die crack from
Star One to the Hand of Liberty.
I wish Dad could still be with us to share this news. But, having this Half Dime is like
having a small part of him with me.
edited to change designation from J 3 to V 3 - then again, I could be wrong as I don't collect this series.
0
Comments
I hope you are able to keep this in your family for many generations to come!
PCGS Registries
Box of 20
SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!
<< <i>Spectacular story!
I hope you are able to keep this in your family for many generations to come! >>
the kind of story that shows the TRUE value in collecting... money may come and go but the bond of family and friends... and the memories of the times spent are eternal... and worth far more than gold...
The story of this little half dime is so fantastic and as Larry said, enriches the coin showing the true value of collecting. It was such fun to hear it from you Mike.
Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks for Sharing.
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