Bust Half Dime Varieties

chabot510 · February 27, 2006 5:43AM

Anyone know of any good online references to attribute a few coins?

MrHalfDime · February 27, 2006 5:56AM

Your best reference for attributing any Bust half dimes is "The Federal Half Dimes 1792 - 1837", by Russell J. Logan and John McCloskey. Barring that, the only on-line reference of which I am aware is the following:

http://rob.com/russ/collection/

This is a listing of the Russ Logan collection, with photographs and descriptions of all of the die marriages for the Bust half dimes. Of course, if you don't know the series, and you don't have the book, it will be a long process of comparison, but it should work for you. Or you could post images on this forum and let us have a stab at it.

Cladiator · February 27, 2006 5:58AM

Link-a-fied:

Russ Logan Collection

<< <i>Or you could post images on this forum and let us have a stab at it. >>

MikeInFL · February 27, 2006 6:40AM

Post pics here!

chabot510 · February 27, 2006 6:53AM

I can't post pics right now. when my other comp crashed I lost my camera software. For some reason it won't load on my temporary comp.

I have an 1831 and an 1834.

From what I can tell the 1831 is the LM-6, V-1a. Rarity-1 variety in a nice original AU58.

I am not too sure about the 1834. The lower loop of the 8 is filled, making me think it is either a LM-3, V-2. Rarity-4 or a LM-1, V-5a. Rarity-2. 3 over Inverted 3. However, the top of the last S on teh reverse is not filled corresponding to the LM-3, V-2. Rarity-4. I can't really tell if there is a retained cud or not making it a LM-1, V-5a. Rarity-2. 3 over Inverted 3.

MrHalfDime · February 28, 2006 6:24AM

Nick:

It sounds as though you already have some very good diagnostic and attribution information for the Capped Bust half dimes, because you are absolutely correct in your assessment of the 1834. If the lower loop of the 8 of the date is filled, it has to be either the later die state of the LM-1/V5a or the LM-3/V2 as you stated, which both share the Obverse 1 die. However, if the top of S2 (second S in STATES) is NOT filled, it must be the LM-1/V5a, because ALL examples of the LM-3/V2 exhibit the filled S2 (S2 filled during the LM-2/V1 marriage). The retained cud (above ED) may or may not be present, depending upon the die state.

RGT · February 28, 2006 1:26PM

Here's an LM-3 that I picked up recently. Note that the die was pitted from rust near the clasp and lower curls. Since this is struck from the same die as the LM-1, why is the LM-1 called "3 over inverted 3" and not the LM-3?

MrHalfDime · March 1, 2006 12:29AM

"Since this is struck from the same [obverse] die as the LM-1, why is the LM-1 called "3 over inverted 3" and not the LM-3?"

You ask a very good question, and the answer, of course, is that the LM-3 is, in fact, also a "3 over inverted 3".

In an article in the July 1993 John Reich Journal, I essentially asked the very same question, when I pointed out that the 1834 V2 used the same obverse die as the 1834 V5, so therefore it also should be designated as a "3 over Inverted 3 (we didn't have LM numbers in those days). Close examination of several examples of each die marriage confirmed this conclusion.

A little known fact is that not one of the early half dime researchers made note of the errant 3 digit in the date for the 1834 V5. It is not mentioned in Newlin, Neil, Valentine, nor even in the Reiver VIM. The very first mention of this repunched numeral appeared in a supplement to the Valentine monograph, reprinted by Sanford Durst in 1984, written by Douglas Winter, noted gold coin specialist. A recent post on this forum mentioned Doug Winter's great research and writing skills in the context of gold coins, but a quick read of this supplement attests to the broad knowledge base and excellent writing skills of Mr. Winter on a wide range of American numismatics.

Edited to add: By the way, that's a great looking half dime you have there!

Bust Half Dime Varieties

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