Capped Bust Half 1818/7 overdate question.

sjk1776

I have lots of questions and y'all usually have the answers!



Recent E-bay pickup seen as a common O-101 variety?



Our hosts deem this to be an XF 40 and the coin is all of that, but the 8/7 is loaded with "stuff".

There is a lot going on in that 8.



Thoughts on the die state, the state of mind of the folks making the coins, other random thoughts etc are appreciated!







Thanks!

lkeigwin

Are you sure that's the O.101? Or maybe the O.103, which was the second use of that obverse die?



I suspect the latter, as some die wear and damage was brewing in the vicinity south of the second 8. You can find some examples where the lower loop appears broken at the bottom.



The overdate on your coin is wonderful. Very clear and prominent.



As for what was going on at the Mint when they chose to begin coining the first 1818 half dollars, it would seem new dies weren't ready and they had a couple of satisfactory 1817 obverses with life in them. (Then again, if they really had extra 1817 obverses you might wonder why the 1817/3 and 1817/4.)



Stuff like this makes the series very alluring.



Nice pic! Let's see the whole coin.

Lance.

sjk1776

I thought O-103 but, I'm still learning at age 50 something!



Here are more pics.



There's a vertical 7 remnant, and a horizontal something or other just above the bottom loop of the 8, and a clear 2nd loop inside the bottom loop of the cracked bottom 8.



Thanks again.

lkeigwin

Nope, it's a 101. And a very nice XF40. Love the surfaces.

Lance.

sjk1776

Thanks Lance, as always the knowledge here is fantastic.