Some 1840 half dimes, "P" mints
rhedden
Posts: 6,645 ✭✭✭✭✭
The first pic below is a new (better) photo of the 1840 With Drapery, V-8, half dime I bought from JJ Teaparty a few weeks back, which was accurately graded at AU-58. The other coins are somewhat lower grade examples, but they are still nice in their own way. The 1840 No Drapery is one of the commonest half dimes of the era, readily available in Unc., so it is kind of ironic that I don't have a high grade No Drapery example to match the AU-58 With Drapery coin. It should be relatively easy to find one, however. The second coin below is a decent Fine, except that it shows evidence of having been slightly bent at one time, seen as an area of heavier wear on the lower right rim. I think I might send that one to ebay unless it turns out to be a scarce variety. The last coin pictured below is a beautifully toned VG that exhibits a prominent die crack through the "8" in the date, and the toning alone makes it worth keeping. See my other thread on the 1840 "O" mints if you liked these.
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Oh well, looks like I'll have to spend the "O" mints too.
Dan
I have nine (9) examples of this die marriage in various die states (Bill Jones on this forum would kill me. He thinks that 'die variety collectors' do the hobby a disservice by 'hoarding' so many examples of a variety, but it is strictly for educational purposes!). I have a gorgeous AU-58 example that is a late die state which really shows the obverse die crack. Much less often seen is an even later die state, with a perpendicular die crack running from east to west, which absolutely quarters the obverse die. It is no wonder that this Very Late Die State (VLDS) is so rare. The die would have ended up in pieces on the coining room floor shortly after this last die crack developed.