"Watch for the doubled die reverse varieties of 1853 Halves. These are sleepers."
TommyType
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The title quote is from Lathmach in a thread yesterday referring to the 1853 Seated Half.
Breen (the only reference on Seated halves I have), has this to say: "4839: 1853 Doubled rev. die. Very rare."
I picked one up 4 or 5 months ago, and thought I saw doubling, but I'm not usually THAT lucky. So I set it aside for further consideration. Lathmach's comment made me go back and look today.
What do you say?
To me, the give-away is the "E" in "STATES". I think I see real separation in the center serif.
Breen (the only reference on Seated halves I have), has this to say: "4839: 1853 Doubled rev. die. Very rare."
I picked one up 4 or 5 months ago, and thought I saw doubling, but I'm not usually THAT lucky. So I set it aside for further consideration. Lathmach's comment made me go back and look today.
What do you say?
To me, the give-away is the "E" in "STATES". I think I see real separation in the center serif.
Easily distracted Type Collector
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Comments
It sticks in my mind that Dick Osburn wrote an article for the Gobrecht Journal on these a while back.
Ray
<< <i>I just checked my 7070 album and my 1853 half has doubling on the reverse. Can you elaborate a little more please. Any good online resources. Thanks. >>
Afraid I'm in the dark as much as you. All I know is that they exist, and apparently more than one variety. I have no pictures or descriptions.
I assume the standard reference on Seated Halves would list them....but I don't have access.
Tom
By the way.....Does your doubling look anything like the pictures I posted?? If not, where do you see the doubling?
John
Turns out it was in Gobrecht Journal Issue #74 from 1999.
He reported 4 known varieties at that time, 3 major, 1 minor.
Since then Larry Briggs has discovered another major variety, and Dick has discovered 2 more minor varieties.
They have also identified an 1853-O Half Dollar with a doubled die reverse.
It's my belief that these will become popular and sought after and will appreciate in price faster than the other varieties of 1853 Halves.
Ray
I wonder what the accepted definition of "major" and "minor" are? I have a feeling that any doubling of the rays would be quite interesting to collectors, (not on my coin), but lettering may be less exciting. (?)
I'll certainly hang on to mine....major variety or not. I just like the coin.
BTW: I'm rather surprised I haven't gotten any "Yep, that's a doubled die", or "Nope, that's strike doubling" from anyone. maybe my pics aren't as good as I thought they were.