@lkeigwin said:
With the introduction of steam presses and the reducing lathe the Mint was able to place all features on the working hubs (except the date) and ramp up production more quickly. Except for the date, all dies were identical. The era of quirky, hand-punched and engraved half dollar varieties had come to an end. Technology marched on.
Chief Engraver Christian Gobrecht reworked the design for improved metal flow and the new presses. Minting did not begin until very late in 1836 and a small run of perhaps 1200 coins were pressed from a single die pair. Their release into circulation was unexpected as the coin's revised design and size had not been approved by Congress. The 1836 reeded edge was considered a pattern by many. However, Congress enacted the new law in early 1837. And as these pieces met the requirements they were released into circulation.
These coins represented the end of a quaint, charming era and the start of a significant, new technology. Show us some reeded edge examples, the last of the venerated bust halves!
Lance.
If you don't mind, what grade did this coin get slabbed as?
@Testoon2 said:
I like 78saen's lowball O bust! I'm assuming it's a 39-O but are there any low grade '38-O's?
No. I think the lowest graded '38-O is an XF.
I remember Heritage auctioning an AU50 a couple of years ago, formerly belonging to Virgil Brand and Frederick C.C. Boyd, and then later in the collection of George "Buddy" Byers. It sold for close to $300,000.
Lance.
@botanist said:
Why was the E Pluribus Unum slogan removed for the reeded edge halves?
William Kneas (sp) did the same thing when modified the design to designate the Classic Head gold coinage. One argument has been that some though that "United States of America" and "E Pluribus Unum" seemed like a redundancy.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
Comments
I like 78saen's lowball O bust! I'm assuming it's a 39-O but are there any low grade '38-O's?
If you don't mind, what grade did this coin get slabbed as?
AU55.
Lance.
No. I think the lowest graded '38-O is an XF.
I remember Heritage auctioning an AU50 a couple of years ago, formerly belonging to Virgil Brand and Frederick C.C. Boyd, and then later in the collection of George "Buddy" Byers. It sold for close to $300,000.
Lance.
Why was the E Pluribus Unum slogan removed for the reeded edge halves?
William Kneas (sp) did the same thing when modified the design to designate the Classic Head gold coinage. One argument has been that some though that "United States of America" and "E Pluribus Unum" seemed like a redundancy.