Hurricane Irene Party: Post a Coin with a Tie to "The Big Apple"

GeorgeKellogg · August 27, 2011 6:42AM

As Hurricane Irene heads NNE on a path that will take it to our nation's largest city, post a coin that has some connection to New York City.

Here's my coin, an 1854-D half eagle, graded AU55 by PCGS. It was purchased from dealer Al Adams at the 2002 ANA in NYC. Al had just purchased the coin at Doug Winter's table. Doug, incidentally, was born in NYC.

There's an interesting backstory to this coin, which involves interaction between the Dahlonega Mint and the "Mother Mint" in Philadelphia. In the fall of 1853, there was a discussion between Dahlonega Mint Superintendent-Treasurer Julius Patton and Philadelphia Mint Director James Ross Snowden (via written correspondence), where it was brought out that the color of the coins produced at the two mints were different, due to the different silver-copper content in the alloy (see Birdsall, pages 61-62). An elemental analysis of Dahlonega coins dated 1853 and 1854 (see Birdsall, page 64), shows that between 1853 and 1854, the silver content of the analyzed Dahlonega coins decreased from 3.6-3.9% to 1.3-1.4%, respectively. A coin with 1.3% silver (8.7% copper) would be more orange in color than one that had 3.6% silver (6.4% copper).

This particular coin has a distinctive orange-gold hue and is indicative of a coin with a reduced silver (higher copper) content. Enjoy!

BloodMan · August 27, 2011 9:39AM

GK,

I really like the 1854-D half eagle. It is interest that the dentils are almost nonexistent on the obverse around 8:00-11:00 o’clock.

Carl Lester wrote a very informative article on the coloration of Dahlonega Gold Coins, perhaps you have seen it.
Link