Options
Is this a clash? 1860-O halfdime
GAB
Posts: 641 ✭
Golf time!!
0
GAB
Posts: 641 ✭
Comments
-Paul
Obv. Open, medium date. Die imperfections between figure and flagpole.
It is not known whether Dr. Valentine was familiar with the concept of die clashing, as he never made mention of it in his writing. He did not even invoke the old, now discredited, term "die suction" for such anomolies.
Curiously, Al Blythe did not even mention this important variety in his "Complete Guide to Liberty Seated Half Dimes".
I have found the 1860-O V2 clashed half dime to be quite scarce, with examples occuring rarely in the marketplace. I presently own just two (2) examples of this variety, in VF-20 and AU-50. In the most recent (2005) Liberty Seated Collectors Club half dime census survey there were just twelve (12) examples reported in all grades, with just one (1) in mint state, five (5) in AU, three (3) in EF, one (1) in VF, one (1) in F, and one (1) in VG.
The clashed letter M certainly looks like a counterstamp, and might easily be confused as such, particularly if its specific position is not compared with the reverse design. Consider that the letters of the denomination on the reverse die were incuse (sunken) in the die steel in order for them to appear in relief on the struck coins. When the dies clashed (came together with no blank planchet in the coining chamber), an impression of the letter M was left raised, or in relief, on the obverse die steel. As subsequent coins were struck from this now impaired obverse die, the struck coins would now exhibit an incuse M on the obverse, as we see on your coin, looking much like a counterpunched M.
Interestingly, this is not the only date or die marriage for this period that exhibits such a strongly clashed inverted M on Miss Liberty's gown. I have seen similar examples for the dates 1857 (P), 1859-O V3, 1860 (P), and 1862 (P), and a similar example for the 1872-S, as well.
Thank you for the detailed explanation. These little halfdimes are very difficult (for me) to get a real
good picture of. With a good loop, I can actually see the letter(s) from the reverse. I went through
the Heritage archives and found one other that had a similar bit lighter clash than this one, so I pretty much thought
this must be a more severe case of the same thing. I am surprised that there is no evidence of the clash on the
reverse. Could it be a new (post clash) reverse on these?
Your the man