Newp GTG 1806 Half Dollar, and a $ Challenge - grade posted
Nysoto
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Guess the PCGS grade! Ignore the dog hairs in the photos.
This is my favorite series and the first purchase in about seven years, been spending most of my time researching the man who engraved this great design. The coin is 1806 T-13/O.113, or the 13th die pairing out of 30 varieties in what is called the emission order, which is the sequence of when the dies were used during the year. The missing and weak reverse stars and cloud are on all examples of this variety, a striking weakness in that area, opposite of the end of the bust. I like the circulated cameo look, and I enjoy this grade nearly as much as AU grades in the series.
This is a rare variety, Al Overton rated O.113 as R-7 (4-12 known) in his 1970 2nd edition, Don Parsley changed the rarity to R-5 in his editing for the 1990 3rd edition of the Overton book. Steve Tompkins has the T-13 as R-5+ in his excellent 2015 book Early United States Half Dollars.
Chief Engraver Robert Scot had a tough year in 1806, his wife Eunice died on April 27 after 23 years of marriage and five children, and on May 14 a fire raged from Dock Street through Walnut and Chesnut Streets, causing Scot to move from 115 Walnut to a home on 12th Street in Philadelphia.
The challenge I have is proving the rarity. I believe 1806 T-13 is an R-6 rarity, within the range of 13 to 30 known. I have been looking for 20+ years, found one on eBay in 2001. The specialist dealer that I purchased this new example from says he has only seen three in same time frame, and he has been around the block. The intriguing thing about this variety is the obverse die is only known in perfect state, usually rare varieties have catastrophic die failures.
I will pay $100 to anyone who can come up with 31 images for 31 separate examples of 1806 T-13, which will prove this is an R.5+ rarity, and not R-6. No time limit on this challenge, other than my demise. Head start - Heritage has about 10 images.
Comments
VG10 congratulations and a nice write up.
10-12 looks right. Nice find.
I was going to go with 12. I have some F-15 coins that this would sit happily with, but I figured they might "ding" it for the couple of scratches on the reverse.
Is that a small die crack after the D in United?
Neat coin!
Considering the variety and the mostly wholesome surfaces, I'd consider it a Fine, but , like others, think it's graded VG 10. Being conservative here, I too love this very historically relevant series and grade range.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
15
Fine -15, one of the “early in the year” 1806 half dollars that had the deeper hair detail that last longer in circulation.
Later in the year the depth of the dies was lower, which probably extended the life of the dies.
Vg10
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
Looks F-15 to me.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
@Smudge, good eye, it is a reverse die crack above D off the wing tip. Tompkins lists reverse die stage 1 as die perfect, then with the reverse crack in die stage 2. The Tompkins plate coin shows a slightly heavier crack than mine, which could have progressed to a full break - but none are known. What is surprising is that the obverse die was not used again, as dies were breaking and shattering often in 1806, until Eckfeldt changed the die bodies to a frustum design (slight cone, thanks Craig) in late 1806.
Looks like a 12 to me...love the circulated cameo look!
F12 and strong eye appeal. Those rims/dentils just don't say VG to me.
My gut says 15 for this die marriage but I'm going to stretch for 20, hoping PCGS appreciated die state.
@nysoto changed my mind about Scot and I encourage other forum members to read his exceptional biography, Robert Scot, Engraving Liberty.
https://amazon.com/Robert-Scot-Engraving-William-Nyberg/dp/1939995094
Lance.
15
Nice old coin... cannot help with the challenge, but would guess a 15...nice hair detail. Cheers, RickO
F15, maybe VF20 on a good day (technically not VF, but coins like this sometimes get extra love).
Really nice coin with nothing distracting.
When I received the coin, I thought it was a strict, old-time VG10 grade. It is possible PCGS netted from F12 for the toned-over reverse scratches, which should be OK at this grade level. Anyway, I like the coin, and the TPG opinion doesn't matter much to me.
I offered $100 for this first person with photographic evidence of 31 examples because the DBH series has progressed enough to where R-6 to R-5 rarities should be established and proven by actual coin counts, rather than estimated rarities. The is one other, 1805 T-6, that I also believe is R-6 rarity, rather than the listed R-5 estimated rarity.
Thanks for all the comments. The Draped Bust half dollar series is a great series to collect if a person likes the DB design, as they are lower priced than the other silver DB denominations.
Very nice indeed!
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About as strong a VG as you'll find. That is no old holder.