Need Help: Is this an 1830 Large Letter 50 Cent?

ANANewbie · February 27, 2007 1:44AM

I don't have Overton's book, and the Red Book doesn't have pix for the 1830. It LOOKS like a "small O" (obverse), and it is probably wishful thinking that they mixed the large letter reverse dies with the small O obverse dies, but a fella's gotta dream, doesn't he? Informed opinions would be helpful (or if someone has pix of what a Large Letter 1830 reverse looks like, that would be great too). Thanks,

TahoeDale · February 27, 2007 1:47AM

No, your coin is not the large letters variety. Check the Heritage Auction for the Charlotte ANA. There is a large letters variety in the sale.

Cladiator · February 27, 2007 1:48AM

Good lookin' coin

ANANewbie · February 27, 2007 1:56AM

Many thanks (and one big "aw shucks"). I'll take a look. Funny thing about dies...one year's "Clear S-Type II" worth hundreds of dollars is next year's old phooie Type I with no premium...sort of the same thing here, as the pix in the Red Book for the 1834 Large Letters reverse is the same as my old stinker "small O" from 1830. There oughta be a law...or a statute...oh well, it IS a nice coin...I just wonder if NGC will grade it (they seem to find "environmental damage" A LOT in these old classics...at least I'm 1 for 1 so far in this category).

Thanks again.

RichieURich · February 27, 2007 2:14AM

to the boards, ANANewbie! Enjoy!

Your half is not an 1830 Large Letters. The diagnostic for the large letters (in addition to the size of the letters) is that the D of UNITED and the S of STATES are very, very close together. The Redbook should put in a picture of the reverse of the variety, as it is often misattributed, especially in online auctions. Probably 3/4 of them I see on the "venue" online auctions are NOT the Large Letters variety. Same goes for the 1812/1 Large 8 half.

commoncents05 · February 27, 2007 2:39AM

to the boards!!

-Paul

ANANewbie · February 27, 2007 4:00AM

That was most helpful. I found a few jpegs at Heritage's web site (O-114 is the Overton number for the large letter 1830)...sure as day, the D and S are noticably closer in the large letter variety. I will need to check out the reference book on this, I'm sure it is covered in the die varieties, but what threw me initially was that most regular lettered small-O have different font sizes for the vowels versus the consenants, however, I did find one (claims to be an O-101 variety) with the constant font size such as mine...

...I just got sucked into Morgan VAM collecting (to my wife's chagrin), must I now also collect Bust Cap Half varieties? IS THERE NO GOD?!?

RichieURich · February 27, 2007 4:13AM

Here's my favorite 1830 Large Letters Half

Note: You'll need to sign into Heritage to see it.

OKbustchaser · February 27, 2007 5:14AM

<< <i>Here's my favorite 1830 Large Letters Half

Note: You'll need to sign into Heritage to see it. >>

OOOOOOPPPPPPPPS!!!!!! The description even says what it is.

By the way, I missed it too!

Edited to add...that is, if it is properly attributed since I can't get the pics to load.

Reedited to add...the pics finally came up and I am embarrassed all over again about missing it.

RichieURich · February 27, 2007 6:26AM

OKbustchaser, it was a pretty good buy, wasn't it? Even for a so-called "problem" coin?

OKbustchaser · February 27, 2007 6:47AM

<< <i>OKbustchaser, it was a pretty good buy, wasn't it? Even for a so-called "problem" coin?

>>

Wanna double your money? In fact, since it's been a couple of years how about I triple it?

RichieURich · February 27, 2007 7:19AM

<< <i>

<< <i>OKbustchaser, it was a pretty good buy, wasn't it? Even for a so-called "problem" coin?

>>

Wanna double your money? In fact, since it's been a couple of years how about I triple it? >>

Thanks for the offer, but I think I'll hold onto it.

Need Help: Is this an 1830 Large Letter 50 Cent?

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