Has there ever been any extensive Edge Reeding or Dentil research on early U.S. coinage?

STONE · June 29, 2008 1:19PM

After using the coin-dome as a tool for photographing the third side of coins, I have become intrigued to learn if there has ever been any extensive
research on the variance of the amount of Edge Reeding and Dentils on early U.S. coins (particularly Bust coinage, but also seated material).

I have looked over several of my raw Bust Dimes and have found that there is quite a significant variance of the number of edge reedings and dentils
between Die varieties both in the large size and smaller sized planchets. Do different die's have a unique amount of these Dentils to them?
Do they vary from obverse to reverse? Why has the reeding on the edges also become so variable?
(my guess would be that the obverse/reverse dentils were hand cut into the dies; but what about the edge reeding, was this hand-cut also?)

So, my question is, has anyone undertaken the task of counting the edge reeding and/or dentils on the different die marriages for the different
bust coins series'? Would there be a variance of the number of edge reedings for the same Die marriages, thus conjuring up new way's to measure
an additional rarity to these coins?

I know it's getting late for some of us, but any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Also, if no-one has done any research on this area, could we start a list here (with our independent findings) and compare results.

NHSBaseball · June 29, 2008 1:50PM

In Federal Half Dimes by Logan/McCloskey there was a great deal of research on both the reeding and dentils done by Mark Smith (I think) that was used to help determine die marraige/remairraige emission sequences.

Quarternut · June 29, 2008 2:24PM

There is a full study of both of these items, at least for the Bust Quarters, included in my new book. I am currently working on a lengthy article about the subject that I will be publishing in the John Reich Journal.

There has been very little published about the dentil or reed counts of the Bust Dimes other than a study done by Mike Sherrill, published in the July 2001 (Vol. 13/3) issue of the John Reich Journal.

David Finkelstein published an article on the obverse dentil counts of the 1807-1836 Bust Halves also in John Reich Journal Vol. 8/1 (Oct. 1993) & 8/3 (Apr. 1994).

As stated above, Mark Smith did a thorough study of the Capped bust Half-Dimes, and his research was used to produce an emission sequence and track die re-marriages in the book by Logan & McCloskey.

As far as I know that is the extent of it. If you wish to do one for the Bust Dimes, have at it! Remember, for it to have any good meaning, all die marriages must be counted.

QN

firstmint · June 29, 2008 3:19PM

Don't forget to check out the impressive studies done by Ivan Leaman and Donald Gunnet (on bust halves) and Russ Logan (on edges) in the 1987 COAC volume titled "America's Silver Coinage" published by the American Numismatic Society.

Quarternut · June 29, 2008 3:56PM

Karl, The reason I did not mention the studies done by Ivan Leaman and Donald Gunnet was that the OP asked about reeded edge and dentil studies. Their research was confined to the lettered edges applied by the castaing machine of the 1807-1836 bust halves.

Of course any mention of edge studies should include these two wonderful researchers and the illustrious and ever tenacious Russ Logan, undisputed "King" of the study of the "third" side of coins.

Also I might mention that John McCloskey has published studies on the reeded edges of many different years and denominations of seated coins in the Gobrecht Journal.

QN

STONE · June 29, 2008 9:35PM

Thanks guys.
I thought I remembered Mark Smith and Russ Logan having done Dentil and Reed Counts for Bust Half-Dimes.
I'm glad to hear that you have added this element in the new Bust Quarter book QN.
Firstmint, I do know of/remember Leaman and Gunnet's work on the edge lettering of Bust Halves (one reason why it was omitted from the question).

QN, the second element of this question was to further study Bust Dimes (thus mentioned as the example w/in my question) in this manner.
I have plans to either acquire examples of all the different DM's (which will be tough!), or ask fellow Bust Dimes specialists for their assistance.
Just last night I've begun to log what I've found in an Excel spread sheet for convenienve w/in this task.

If anyone else has any more info, please let me know.

firstmint · June 30, 2008 1:09AM

Hey, aren't those little letters on the Bust Halves the edge reeding

Actually, I mentioned both of the articles as they appeared in the same publication.

topstuf · June 30, 2008 1:13AM

<< <i>Hey, aren't those little letters on the Bust Halves the edge reeding

Actually, I mentioned both of the articles as they appeared in the same publication. >>

No. That's edge READING!

Nysoto · June 30, 2008 1:39AM

Other dentil research includes board member preturb's study of all 1794-1807 half dollar dentil counts, which identified a constant 153 dentil count for all reverse dies created from the last working hub used for half dollars and $10's. The dentils were hubbed, rather than placed individually on working dies, which was a surprising discovery as hubbed dentils were not thought to be done until the late 1830's.

Anthony Taraszka published a reeding count/diameter study of early eagles in the 1999 JRJ. John McCloskey has counted the reeding on classic head gold, the C & D mint have a much lower reed count than the Phily struck coins.

I don't think the early dollars have any published research on dentil counts. This could be done without owning any ED's, just a lot of time and patience!

Quarternut · June 30, 2008 1:50AM

Nysoto, you are certainly correct! I had forgot about the recent article by Bryce Brown in John Reich Journal Vol. 18/2 (June 2007).

The study of the classic gold by John McCloskey has not been published yet to my knowledge, but will be in his new book on the subject.

Anthony Taraszka's article can be found in John Reich Journal Vol. 12/2 (July 1999)

QN

Tvac897 · June 30, 2008 5:54AM

I believe there are quite a few publications about this subject?

RWB · June 30, 2008 6:09AM

Two areas that have not been examined in detail are the Saint-Gaudens design $10 and $20. In Renaissance of American Coinage 1905-1908 I speculated that there are edge varieties for 1907 and 1908 (possibly later, too) that are presently unknown.

If you find something interesting, I’ll help you get the results published.

Quarternut · June 30, 2008 2:30PM

Just thought I would add some info that you might want to read.

Firstmint mentioned the 1987 COAC volume titled "America's Silver Coinage" published by the American Numismatic Society. Along with the Leaman & Gunnet study and the article presented by Russ Logan, there is a paper presented by Allen F. Lovejoy and William L. Subjack, two of the co-authors on the "Early United States Dimes 1796 - 1837". In this paper the introduction of the Close collar die was discussed and also the fact that Bust Dimes produced prior to 1828 (the date of the changeover in technology) were also struck by a reeded collar die.

If you don't own a copy of this volume you need to purchase one! There is valuable information to be found that has been published in many other areas, expanding your knowledge base is a great way to start the project you are contemplating.

QN

Has there ever been any extensive Edge Reeding or Dentil research on early U.S. coinage?

Comments

Leave a Comment