New 1806 Half Dollar Variety (O-129) Confirmed
colridge
Posts: 3 ✭
The discovery of a new die variety of 1806 half dollar has been confirmed by experts who examined the coin. The coin was discussed on this forum in a previous thread. The new variety has been designated Overton-129. It combines a previously unknown obverse (designated as obverse 13) with a known reverse (reverse L). It was sold unattributed on eBay last month.
See images of the coin below. To me the most striking feature of the obverse is how far the lower left star is from the bust. (It has been observed that this star is higher than on any other draped bust half dollar, 1801 to 1807.) More information will be forthcoming. Have a look and start searching for more specimens of this variety (but if you don't find any I won't be too disappointed.
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See images of the coin below. To me the most striking feature of the obverse is how far the lower left star is from the bust. (It has been observed that this star is higher than on any other draped bust half dollar, 1801 to 1807.) More information will be forthcoming. Have a look and start searching for more specimens of this variety (but if you don't find any I won't be too disappointed.
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Congrats, and welcome to the boards.
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Welcome to the forum colridge! Congratulations on the new find.
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FrederickCoinClub
How many new varieties have you discovered? I have a feeling this is not your 1st discovery coin.
<< <i>give us a break down of how the conformation went >>
A shortened version is:
Weigh the coin - 12.84 grams, appropriate for the level of wear (hole is approx. .05 grams of weight reduction), diameter is standard 32.5 mm
Reverse L is VLDS used after O.116.
Compare obverse to all used 1801-1807, overlay verified obverse hub, all letters and date numerals matched those used in 1806.
Check for signs of alteration and surface granularity, "ring" test matched another 1806 half (verify struck vrs cast).
A critical test was to verify the edge lettering matched the edge hub used from mid-1795 through 1806 halves, which it did. The edge die wear was slightly more than 1806 O.116 (rev L), but not as worn as 1806 O.117.
<< <i>The hole looks very unusual >>
We thought the hole was 19th century by the wear pattern. It was not used much as jewelry, as the inside showed little "chain" wear, it was probably holed, then a pocket piece for awhile.
There will be a Coin World article soon on the discovery.
<< <i>The hole looks very unusual. There appears to be a raised rim of uniform height and width on the periphory of the hole on both sides of the coin. I've never seen this feature on a holed coin before. >>
I see it often, especially on draped bust coinage. Here's another example of that hole type;
Here is that type before it has been 'cleaned';
And here is what that hole type looks like post 'cleaning' but before any kind of noticable wear takes place;
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<< <i>There will be a Coin World article soon on the discovery. >>
I can't wait! Nysoto, can you let us know which issue it will be in when you find out? Thanks.
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<< <i>How many new varieties have you discovered? I have a feeling this is not your 1st discovery coin.
Indeed it isn't my first discovery coin. I brought another discovery piece to the meeting. It's a B-23 1798 draped bust dollar with an unusually wide 8. I figured it might be a new sub-variety created late in the use of the die. One of the guys took a look and identified that the piece was plugged in the location of the 8, so the 8 isn't original. (Even after he pointed it out, it was hard for me to tell.)
Now I'm down to only one other discovery coin, a dateless draped bust large cent. The reverse, or what's left of it, I haven't been able to match to any known variety. But there are so few diagnostics left that even if it is a new variety it might not be able to be authenticated, making it a Rarity-9 piece, effective population of 0.
You are welcome. Most excitement I had in ages.
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I may have this but the article on the (O-129) is now in Coin World.
Congrats!
Makes for a nice read.
Larry
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