Closed collar/open collar & Reeded vs. Lettered edge

Comments

• MrHalfDime Posts: 3,440 ✭✭✭✭

  June 3, 2006 12:54AM

  I cannot speak with any authority about the other denominations, but all half dimes (and even half dismes) had reeding, although for the 1792 half disme the reeding was on a bias, or diagonal. Now the open/closed collar question is another thing entirely.
  
  The Capped Bust half dimes (1829 - 1837) and the Liberty Seated half dimes (1837 - 1873) were all struck in a closed collar, with the reeding imparted by the collar - the third die. The Flowing Hair (1794 - 1795) and Draped Bust (1796 - 1805) half dimes were struck in an 'open collar', which also imparted the reeding, although the reeding is typically weak for these dates. Off-center pieces will often exhibit no reeding along the opposing edge. Despite the common misconception, the Castaing machine was not used to produce the edge reeding on the half dimes.

  They that can give up essential Liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither Liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin

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• tjkillian Posts: 5,578 ✭✭✭

  June 3, 2006 11:57AM

  Thanks for the information. Anyone else have more on dimes and quarters?
  
  Tom

  Tom
  
  

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• CaptHenway Posts: 32,678 ✭✭✭✭✭

  June 3, 2006 3:08PM

  
  
  << <i>When did half dimes, dimes, and quarters start having reeded edges? When did they start minting them with closed collars? I thought the 1836 half dollar was the first reeded edge coin, but I saw several quarters and dimes in the 'teens that had reeded edges. Also, it is with closed collars that coins finally started being perfectly round, or am I confused?
  
  Tom >>
  
  
  
  The 1836 Reeded Edge half dollar was the first coin struck on a steam-powered press, not the first coin struck in a closed collar.
  Tom D.

  Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.

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• construct Posts: 932

  June 3, 2006 3:44PM

  Conder101 recently corrected me about the use of "closed" collar. The correct usage is "close" collar; the collar produced the reeding on open collar coins even before the size was reduced.
  
  Close collars began in the 1820s and 30s--dimes: 1928; half dimes, quarter eagles, and half eagles: 1829; quarters: 1831; halves and dollars: 1836; eagles: 1838. I'm note sure whan copper started using close collars, but by 1837 the diameter had become standard on large cents.

  The strangest things seem suddenly routine.

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