OCC - reed counting - updated 12-4-13

A flashlight reflector provides an excellent edge mirror for photographing the edges (and reeds) of coins, superimposed around the periphery of either the obverse or reverse photographs. One flashlight reflector can be used for many different diameter coins, and the coins will self-center when placed into the reflector. Such a device can also be used to count the reeds under a microscope, but it is often easier to simply photograph the coin, print out a hard copy of the image, and then mark on the print the reed where you began counting, and then every 10 or so reeds, until the final count is made. It is very easy to lose count, but with a marked photo print you can pick up the count easily if you lose your place or get interrupted.

The late Russ Logan, author of the early dime and half dime book, mentor, numismatist extraordinaire, and talented mechanical engineer, developed an edge mirror which he manufactured at his Cleveland engineering firm. He made different sizes for the different diameters of the early Federal coins, each with a highly polished mirror surface. Even when he was alive and still manufacturing them, they were sometimes difficult to find, and now that Russ is no longer with us, and they are no longer being made, the few surviving examples are tightly held by appreciative collectors of the series. Unless or until someone begins manufacturing them again, we will have to make do with the flashlight reflectors.

Be prepared to test your photographic skills since its not as easy as one would think.

I tried it with the Presidential Dollars (using a reflector from my own flashlight) and it didn't turn out too well.

"Remind me please...why are we counting reeds?? Cheers, RickO

I don't wonder why some would ask why so much attention would be paid to the edge reeds. The edge, or 'third die' as it is often referred to, is often ignored. But for die marriage and 'variety' collectors, the edge, particularly of lettered and reeded edge coins, can provide much interesting and useful information. When the half dime reference was being written, and research was being conducted to determine the emission sequence, or order of manufacture, of the various die marriages and remarriages, many of the sequences were found to be indeterminate using only the obverse and reverse die deterioration. Then, primarily through the dedicated research of the late Mark Smith, it was found that the answers were to be found from the collars, or 'third dies'. By comparing the reed counts and die deterioration of the collars, and combining that with similar information for the obverse and reverse dies, a much clearer picture of the emission sequence emerged. Also, reed counts can be most useful in determining the authenticity of some coins which may have had a mint mark removed. For instance, many Civil War era Philadelphia half dimes are considerably more scarce, and thus more valuable, than their San Francisco counterparts. These two mints often used collars with different reed counts, making the mint of origin easier to determine. Perhaps not of much interest to many, but of great interest to some.

The 1921 is the highest profile reeding variation (157) that can be felt without even looking if you practice. There are many others, though. There is an 1878 7TF with a 168-reed collar that never shows up again in the entire series. There are three collar dies known for the 1878 VAM 6. There are several instances of "overlapping reeding" throughout the series, mostly (if not entirely) from New Orleans, where there will be a segment or two of 7-10 reeds that look like they are out of phase with the rest of the reeds that overlap the others.

for those of us that buy raw coins on occasion, being familiar with reed counts makes sifting through the counterfeits much easier

Great example of what you were talking about with the above pictures. I was unsure of what you were explaining before those, thank you.

Excellent work LanceNewmanOCC!

If this becomes more widespread, counterfeiters will also have to count reeds

I recognize the need to count reeds, especially when attributing 19th century varieties. Thank you for doing it so I don't have to.

I missed this the first time around...cool stuff!