Newp...a story about the "real large stars" 1807 bust half dollar, and patience
lkeigwin
Posts: 16,893 ✭✭✭✭✭
Around ten years ago, as I was trying to complete a Redbook set of Capped Bust Half Dollars, I bought a very pleasant 1807 Large Stars O.114 XF40 from a favorite dealer, Dave Kahn. It was "the real large stars variety", not the more common 1807 50/20 which PCGS also calls large stars. (Fun fact: the 50/20 denomination overstrike did not actually involve the numeral 2 punch...it was an upside down 5!)
As nice as it was I really wanted an AU upgrade but couldn't find one I liked. So I motored-on, filling die marriages holes while resisting the urge to settle when a few others came along. It's a scarce variety.
Then, at the winter FUN show two year ago, Sheridan Downey offered-up a very pretty example in an almost unique custom holder from the R.E. Cox collection. (Robert Earl Cox was a preeminent collector of United States Half-Dollars in the years preceding Stack’s sale of his collection in April 1962. He displayed his half dollars in sturdy cardboard holders made by Art Craft, each individually prepared. Of the many hundreds he had only two are known to survive.)
I won the coin but couldn't part with the holder, as much as I'd like to have it in my PCGS inventory and registry. So I kept it in its original holder.
Out of the blue a longtime collector-friend of mine suddenly offered his O.114. Yes! It's only a 53...and I think that's a little generous...but I'm happy to check one off the bucket list. It pays to have patience. Don't you agree?
If you have a "patience pays" story, please share it!
Lance.
Comments
Cool coins (Way Cool Holder) and cool story and Congrats on the Newp!
Beautiful example of the very tough 1807 O.114, Lance.
Congrats!
Very interesting, and very nice examples!
Very nice coins and unique holder.... Interesting idea to make custom holders....well, at least for those we do not intend to slab. Cheers, RickO
Great story @lkeigwin! Thanks.
W. David Perkins Numismatics - http://www.davidperkinsrarecoins.com/ - 25+ Years ANA, ANS, NLG, NBS, LM JRCS, LSCC, EAC, TAMS, LM CWTS, CSNS, FUN
These are the kind of posts that inspire fascination with this hobby and keep me reading here. Thanks for sharing your story and for your lesson of patience.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Great coins and great story, lkeigwin! I had seen the holder but didn't have any idea it was so rare.
Congratulations on acquiring both coins!
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
They are both great and so is the story!
For many years I was waiting for Mariah Carey to knock on my door, asking me to marry her. As it turns out, I am glad she forgot, so patience also paid off for me.
I should have said "...only two half dollars are known to survive." R.E. Cox specialized in half dollars but he collected other series too, I'm told. So maybe there others out there that haven't been destroyed. I'd like to think so but 50+ years is a long time for them to stay hidden.
Sheridan Downey wrote "His virtually complete collection encompassed the gamut of 50¢ pieces. It commenced with a VF specimen in copper of Peter Getz’ 1792 depiction of George Washington and ended with a date set of uncirculated and proof Franklin half-dollars. It included patterns, errors, die and hub trials, fantasy pieces, commemoratives halves and the territorial issues of Hawaii."
Thanks for the nice comments, fellas!
Lance.
Beautiful examples of an outstanding series. Your Registry Set is great fun to look at, and having read the fascinating story behind the R.E, Cox collection on Sheridan Downey's website brought even more "WOW" factor to your custom holder. That holder, in my humble opinion, is artwork, a fitting frame for the coin it holds. Congratulations, Lance
Congratulations, and I have always admired that old holder..... it is not green though heh.
The 1807 CBH O-114 the real large stars has always been of interest to me. The stars and eagle on reverse are usually struck better than the other 3 die pairs for the date.
The central hair on Miss Liberty is usually a bit mushy. I used to be an 1807 kinda guy.
Green? There's no green in that photo. It's beige. Or am I missing something?
I'm with you, stman...1807 is a great year. I'd love to get my hands on a very nice draped bust half.
Lance.
Certainly, an example that was "worth the wait"
I said not green holder. Ok, old beige holder.
Duh...I'm a little slow today. I thought I had a color problem.
Lance.
WTG Lance!
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Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Great holder. Love the coin.
Great story superceded only by the coins and the one holder. Thanks for sharing. What a beauty to add to your already gorgeous collection.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain