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Early Capped Bust Halves

lkeigwinlkeigwin Posts: 16,893 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited March 11, 2017 7:03AM in U.S. Coin Forum

The earliest capped bust halves, the 1807 and 1808 years, have a special allure. 1807 marked the new employ of Mint engraver John Reich and his mid-year change from the draped bust design, and gave us fun varieties like the "50/20" overstrike (for a long time believed to be a blunder using a 2 punch instead of a 5 but it turned out to be a 5 punch upside down), the scarce bearded goddess (from a die break at the chin that somehow became kinda sexy and very desirable), and the small and large stars varieties (which were probably more about striking pressure than a different punch).

In 1808 we got our first overdate variety, the 1808/7. It was the last of a two year design type. 1809 introduced peculiar edge lettering. Why the new coins were stamped with XXX's or III's among the words FIFTY CENTS OR A HALF DOLLAR is anyone's guess.

1809 brought numerous design changes. The new obverse MD touched the cap, curls, ribbon, forehead, drapery, clasp, and ear. On the reverse we see changes to the scroll ends, eagle's beak, wing, feathers, leg, talons and claws; the shield is wider, arrow shafts, feathers, and heads were altered; the period following UNUM is gone.

1810 and 1811 are among my favorites. Strikes are a little soft in some areas. Stars and dentils are weak, the center obverse, hair curls and drapery clasp suffer, along with eagle's left wing. But good overall strikes can be found and because many stayed in vaults for decades they can be found in excellent condition.

Here are some examples.
Lance.


























Coin Photography Services / Everyman Registry set / BHNC #213

Comments

  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 14,070 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'm pretty sure it's your coins Lance that allures me.
    All gorgeous all the time. <3

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • BryceMBryceM Posts: 11,857 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Good gravy these are gorgeous. Fabulous photography too.

  • erwindocerwindoc Posts: 5,287 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Pretty coins!

  • TopographicOceansTopographicOceans Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭✭

    Beautiful - and they just kept coming B)

  • oih82w8oih82w8 Posts: 12,606 ✭✭✭✭✭

    "I want to go home and rethink my life"

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiiGJq4IFvo

    oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's

    BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wow... some real beauties there.... I would date them :D My pick up line would be....'I'm no photographer, but I can picture us together.'.... :D Cheers, RickO

  • astroratastrorat Posts: 9,221 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very nice, Lance. Your patience and eye for quality is quite evident. Next month I am giving the educational program for our coin club and my topic is collecting Capped Bust half dollars. The images for my coins will look just like yours ... but from an amateur photographer of coins that have seen a couple of decades more wear! :o

    Numismatist Ordinaire
    See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
  • coinnutcoinnut Posts: 1,433 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice write up and of course beautiful coins. Thanks Lance!

  • drddmdrddm Posts: 5,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 11, 2017 1:26PM

    Excellent write up Lance, and incredible pics of your amazing bust halves!

    I'm not trying to hijack your thread at all, but only add to it....so here are some more examples among the early Capped Bust Halves, along with a few more from the next three years...

    1812 brought some minor design changes to Liberty's portrait in the curls, drapery, and breast area. Typically a very good strike, and also among the more plentiful compared to the earlier dates around. This year also brought another overdate, the 1812/1 with both a small and the rare, large 8.

    1813 is chock full of neat varieties, with cool die cracks and clash marks on many of the different die marriages. The strike for this year is more often weak to good, but can also be found stronger as well. This year brought us the neat variety "50/UNI" which is considered a mistake when UNI was erroneously punched into the working die BELOW the eagle.

    1814 is another year with some more interesting die varieties, including another overdate, 1814/3, the scarce 1814 Single Leaf, where one of the leaves on the reverse was lapped off, and the 1814 E/A, in which another error occurred whereby an E was placed over a mistakenly punched A in STATES. The strike is also typically weak to good but can be found well struck, and several varieties also have neat die cracks and clashes too.

    Dave















  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very Very nice write up and BEAUTIFUL coins Lance. I REALLY wish I could collect those!

  • kazkaz Posts: 9,275 ✭✭✭✭✭

    thanks for an informative thread and some great photos of beautiful halves!

  • Wabbit2313Wabbit2313 Posts: 7,268 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I learned something new today Lance, and for a Saturday, that's not bad! If only there was a time machine to go back and watch some of these being made.

    If I had to choose, I would pick the first coin as my favorite look.

    Nice images as always!!

  • JRoccoJRocco Posts: 14,277 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I approve of this post !
    :)

    Some coins are just plain "Interesting"
  • GoBustGoBust Posts: 605 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wonderfully attractive and original toning. Bust half dollar nirvana to be sure. You really are building an amazing set. The quality of each of your coins is about one in a hundred. That might be an interesting question. How many capped halves do you need to search to find an AU58 original skin coin with attractive toning? I'm guessing one in a hundred. What do others think?

  • lkeigwinlkeigwin Posts: 16,893 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Coming from you, Chuck, that means a lot. I am humbled.

    I'm sure you were also referencing DrDDM's coins. He has wonderful taste and a superb eye. Dr. Dave has helped me along for almost a decade. He's also about to become our newest BHNC member. So grateful!
    Lance.

    Coin Photography Services / Everyman Registry set / BHNC #213
  • drddmdrddm Posts: 5,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 14, 2017 9:13AM

    Chuck's compliment to you Lance is very well deserved. During my recent hiatus from collecting, you have amassed one of the most impressive sets of CBH's I have seen, and continue to add more incredibly eye appealing coins as time passes.

    Thank you for your kind words Lance. I can only hope to follow in your footsteps with acquiring more eye appealing examples like yours.

    And with regards to becoming a BHNC member soon, I can honestly say, I can't recall wanting something as bad as this in a very long time. I look so forward to the camaraderie and knowledge I will gain by being part of this club, and hope over time to contribute to it in some meaningful way.
    Dave

  • lkeigwinlkeigwin Posts: 16,893 ✭✭✭✭✭

    One more addition I'd like to share. This was an ebay cherry pick (alas, not mine) that could hardly have turned out better for the buyer. The 1812/1 large 8, R5.
    Lance.


    Coin Photography Services / Everyman Registry set / BHNC #213
  • PaleElfPaleElf Posts: 990 ✭✭✭

    Very cool! When did that sell?

  • CoinZipCoinZip Posts: 3,253 ✭✭✭

    Inspiration for us all... thank you for sharing :)

    Coin Club Benefit auctions ..... View the Lots

  • drddmdrddm Posts: 5,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 26, 2017 4:49AM

    Incredible example of a super tough Redbook variety!
    Congrats Lance!

    Dave #226

  • TPRCTPRC Posts: 3,814 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Great coins and great thread!

    Tom

  • astroratastrorat Posts: 9,221 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Lance and Dave (and Chuck, of course) have great eyes for quality. Assembling an eye appealing high AU or MS set is a stunning numismatic challenge ... even with deep, deep pockets (full disclosure ... I have never seen inside Lance's, Dave's or Chuck's pockets :p). I have focused on a VF set (I like coins that have been out to do their job) for decades and that's challenging enough. But an AU/MS set, with eye appeal to boot? That's numismatic masochism.

    Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing your finds.

    Lane #178

    Numismatist Ordinaire
    See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
  • JimnightJimnight Posts: 10,846 ✭✭✭✭✭

    So much knowledge, great photos... just a great thread.

  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,715 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wow, how did I miss this the first time?
    Fantastic write up, coins, and photography, Lance.
    Thanks for taking the time to share with us.

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