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1842, 1843, 1844 half dimes
rhedden
Posts: 6,650 ✭✭✭✭✭
Here are some more P-mint half dimes of the 1840's from my collection. The 1842 is a beautifully toned AU58 that couldn't be any nicer for the grade. It has bright pink and orange highlights, among other colors, over lustrous surfaces. The 1843 is an F15 to me. The first 1844 is an AU50 or AU53 piece, and the second 1844 (repunched date) is a VF20. Feel free to debate grades with me if you'd like, but of course I have the advantage of looking at the coins in-hand.
I am not going to post my O-mint coins from this era because I am just not happy with them. I have an 1841-O in F-15, an 1842-O in badly corroded VF, and an 1844-O in Good-4. If anyone out there has duplicates and wants to help me upgrade, I'd be willing to consider purchasing better specimens of these dates, so send a PM.
I am not going to post my O-mint coins from this era because I am just not happy with them. I have an 1841-O in F-15, an 1842-O in badly corroded VF, and an 1844-O in Good-4. If anyone out there has duplicates and wants to help me upgrade, I'd be willing to consider purchasing better specimens of these dates, so send a PM.
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1844, that is "Little Orphan Annie's" little sister, very cool. Please keep showing them.
Tom
The bank-wrapped BU rolls, or the proofs?
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Your 1842 half dime is absolutely gorgeous. It appears to be an example of Valentine's V3, which is a common variety, but your coin is in uncommon condition.
Your 1843 I cannot readily attribute, other than to state that it does not appear to be the V4 Shattered Reverse, V5 Shattered Obvserse, or the V6 1843/1843. I will check further into that one.
Many would have you believe that the 1844 V3 Double, Triple, or Quadruple Punched Date half dime is scarce or even rare, but that is decidedly not the case. Indeed, the 1844 V3 is the most common 'variety' for the date, and is seen more often than the other varieties by a factor of perhaps 4 to 1. Whether or not the date is double, triple or quadrule punched depends upon the relative die state you have; the first die state exhibits the most repunching, with four distinct sets of digits. The most significant repunching is seen on the digit 1 (above) and the digit 8 (below), particularly on the very earliest die states. So although it is interesting, it is certainly not scarce, and not worth any premium over generic, as it is the most common die marriage for the date.
The 1844 V2, with no repunching in the date, is considerably more scarce than the V3, but one should not assume that any 1844 with no repunching visible in the date is not a V3. Very late die states (VLDS) of the V3 will show no repunching of the date, as the evidence of repunching has worn away. It is better to use the Shield Line (SL) method for attributing the 1844s, sighting a straight line up alongside the right hand side of the 1 in the date, and noting which of the vertical shield lines it aligns with. The V3 Repunched Date has a SL of 8.5, while the V2 has a SL of 8. Both of your 1844s are the V3, even though repunching is visible only on the lower grade piece (fourth coin pictured).
The 1844 V1 (SL-7) is considerably rare. In 25 years of looking for an example, I have never seen one, or even heard of the existence of one, yet I have seen a picture of one, so I know it exists. I now believe that the 1844 V1 is a proof-only issue, explaining why I cannot seem to locate an example. Valentine described the 1844 V1, and there is a picture of one in the Gobrecht Journal Collective Volumes, apparently attributed to Kam Ahwash, although the pictured coin is not described as a proof. I would be most interested in talking with anyone who has an 1844 half dime with SL-7.
I have a few more 1844-P coins tucked away... I just didn't finish photographing them yet. Now you've really gotten my interest in these 1844 coins. I bet they're all the commonest die marriage, knowing my luck, but it will be fun to re-examine them. I was not aware that there was a die state of the V-3 with no repunching visible. Interesting.