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Some Half Dimes.
Type2
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By the way, they aren't nickels!
<< <i>Nice pickups. I'm partial to the 39 and the 40.
By the way, they aren't nickels! >>
I better take them back for a refund, I did get one I'll post it later.
Hoard the keys.
Because of the paucity of comprehensive reference literature on the Liberty Seated half dimes, it is sometimes difficult, often impossible, to attribute some half dimes, particularly for the later, post Civil War dates. But for many others, attribution can often be determined with just a little examination. Unfortunately, Type 2’s 1871 half dime is one of those that cannot be positively attributed to any known die marriage, simply because the descriptions in the Valentine reference are so vague and ambiguous, and because Valentine does not plate any reverse dies for the 1871 date. It is an extremely attractive coin, exhibiting strong obverse clash marks. In the date, the 1 and 8 are close, and the 7 and last 1 are close, hinting at V1. Also, the top of the D in UNITED is broken, a hub defect affecting many working dies, which eliminates only the V3 die marriage. But few other attributes are available to allow positive attribution, so we must simply enjoy the coin for what it is, without ever knowing what number to put on it.
The 1839 and 1840 half dimes are my favorites of the coins posted by the OP, certainly not because they are higher grade than the others, but because they are interesting early dates. The 1839 Liberty Seated half dime, with a mintage of over one million coins (1,069,150) is surprisingly represented by just two known die marriages, and this number has held throughout the study of this issue. This would imply that the two die pairs each struck a half million coins, which stretches plausibility, but no other die marriages have ever been reported for the date. The OP’s coin is an example of Valentine’s V1, with no repunching of the 9 in the date (as on V2) and star 11 is repunched. The 1839 V1 is quite common.
The 1840 No Drapery half dime is represented by six (6) die marriages, as identified by Daniel Valentine. From the obverse, we can see that the shield point (SP) is over the left side of the 8, reducing the possibilities to V1, V4, or V6. The 1 in the date is centered over a space between dentils, star 2 and star 3 are close, and star 8 is repunched, making the OP’s coin an example of the V4. The 1840 V4 is also readily available.
The OP’s 1866-S half dime is an example of a misplaced date (MPD). However, before he can think of things like early retirement and college education for all of the kids, one must realize that there is but one die marriage for all 1866-S half dimes, Valentine’s V1, and all examples of this date are from the very same die pair. If we look closely at the obverse die, immediately to the left of the bulla, or skirt pendant, we can see what might look like a fold in the skirt, but is actually the lower loop of a misplaced 6. This variety has been well documented, and is as available as any coin with a mintage of just 120,000 coins, but is quite interesting as a MPD.
Great coins, nice grades, and apparently original surfaces. I wish I had been to that show myself.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I learned a new word today. Thank you, MrHalfDime.
Beautiful coins, Type2! You get a ThumbsUp, as well.
Hoard the keys.
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
Nice pickups.
BHNC #203
The obverse is definitely clashed, in front of Miss Liberty's knee and drapery fold, and below the U of UNITED. Some other lines seen may be in the plastic, but the obverse of this coin is severely clashed.