A little something for you early Half Dime nuts.

Russ · February 16, 2008 8:57AM

NGC MS61. There's just something very cool about a coin that was struck so soon after the founding of the country!

Russ, NCNE

Barndog · February 16, 2008 9:06AM

holy elmo, that is cool!

CappedBustDimes · February 16, 2008 9:13AM

interesting crescent obverse. that is a pretty jazzy example, thanks for sharing.

quickwing · February 16, 2008 9:15AM

Is that a LDS?

ExtraNice

Barndog · February 16, 2008 9:22AM

<< <i>Is that a LDS?

ExtraNice >>

Logan and McCloskey say "a terminal semicircular bisecting die crack develops from rim through the upper loop of the 8, through the lower curls, through the hair ribbon knot to above B in LIBERTY to the rim." 1801 LM-2 (only two die marriages in 1801, this is the "more common" die marriage, but with only 27,760 coins minted total (LM-1 and LM-2 combined), I don't view any 1801 half dime as common, let alone this terminal die stage, Mint State example.

STONE · February 16, 2008 9:25AM

Sweet Crescent Die-Crack Russ

rgCoinGuy · February 16, 2008 9:26AM

Some really great coins you've posted tonight Russ, Congrats on the pickups!

Russ · February 16, 2008 9:34AM

<< <i>Some really great coins you've posted tonight Russ, Congrats on the pickups! >>

I wish! This puppy is just in for imaging.

Russ, NCNE

mcheath · February 16, 2008 9:38AM

Wow that one is freaking cool.

RichieURich · February 16, 2008 9:38AM

Very cool, love the die crack and its effects.

ricko · February 16, 2008 9:40AM

Very nice indeed... Cheers, RickO

RYK · February 16, 2008 9:50AM

I LOVE the coin but hate the holder. The plastic is killing your photo.

millennium · February 16, 2008 9:54AM

WOW...I like it!

MrHalfDime · February 16, 2008 9:56AM

Only a few years ago, before the Logan/McCloskey half dime reference was published, we had just two known 1801 die marriages - the V1 and V2. Then Eric Gutscher discovered the extremely rare V3. About that same time, researchers and half dime experts Jules Reiver and Ed Price began to question the V1 and V2. They began a serious and detailed study of these two die marriages, ultimately resulting in the discovery that the V1 and V2 were one and the same - the very same die marriage! This seemed to fly in the face of logic and rational thinking, because the obverse die(s) for the V1 and V2 had what appeared to be mutually exclusive die markers. For instance, if you look at the beautiful coin pictured here, you see the huge die crack on the left side of the obverse. However, if you look at the plate coin in the L/M reference for the 1801 LM-2/V1,V2 you will see an equally huge die crack on the right side of the obverse, yet it is the same obverse die. Their pioneering article appeared in the John Reich Journal Volume 11, Issue 3.

For all those of you who know the secret handshake, I will let you in on how to identify the extremely rare (R7) LM-1/V3 1801 half dime. I was able to cherrypick an example (the second known example, and one of an estimated 6 now known) because I knew this little tidbit of information. All known examples of the 1801 half dime (both LM-1 and LM-2) share the same reverse, so the answer will not be found there. You need to look closely at the obverse to distinguish them. Many of the half dime references (Valentine, Reiver's VIM, etc.) discuss the "die crack through the date" for the LM-2/V1,V2 (the more common variety). However, the LM-1/V3 (the rare one) also has a die crack through the date, but unlike the coin pictured here, with the die crack running vertically through the 8, the LM-1 has a die crack running horizontally through all four date numerals. There you have it. You can thank me later, when you cherrypick an example of the rare LM-1/V3.

Russ, that is an absolutely stunning example of the 1801 half dime, and slightly better than my VF-20 example. There really is something fascinating about such a high grade coin more than 200 years after it was minted.