A Few Coins from my Favorite Era of US Coinage; the mid-1830s through mid-1840s
TomB
Posts: 22,936 ✭✭✭✭✭
I realize that the coins shared and the time period written about in this thread are not from the birth of our nation, but it might yet be an appropriate post to start on Independence Day. If your grammar school, middle school and high school history classes were like mine then the time period through the War of 1812 was heavily studied, which was almost immediately followed by the immediate causes of the Civil War with only a very brief mention of the intervening forty years. These years might as well have fallen into a black hole or otherwise be thought of as the backwater of US history. I won’t delve into the history of the nation during this time period, but it was fascinating as was the history of the US Mint and its various coinage products.
This historic niche makes the coins produced in this era interesting, but the changes in personnel, design and technology also make for a vibrant collecting opportunity. My personal numismatic journey has focused on various series or eras including early , high grade Washington quarters, matte proof Lincoln cents and original, wonderfully toned twentieth century coinage. A common thread was always the chase for unperturbed surfaces and an attractive look. Commencing perhaps a dozen years ago I charged headlong into the study of US type and that is where I have found my numismatic home. My goal is to deconstruct any potential purchase and use an analytical eye with respect to the surfaces of the piece and how those surfaces might have come about over time.
I’m picky, I’ll state that upfront. As a consequence of this collecting and dealing philosophy I look at or examine large numbers of coins, but not many of those coins are subsequently purchased by me, either for my collection or for the collections of my clients. Following are some examples of pieces that have “made the cut” as it were, and that have found themselves tucked away into my own collection. They may not have the “WOW!” factor for every collector, but they sure appear uber-cool to me
This historic niche makes the coins produced in this era interesting, but the changes in personnel, design and technology also make for a vibrant collecting opportunity. My personal numismatic journey has focused on various series or eras including early , high grade Washington quarters, matte proof Lincoln cents and original, wonderfully toned twentieth century coinage. A common thread was always the chase for unperturbed surfaces and an attractive look. Commencing perhaps a dozen years ago I charged headlong into the study of US type and that is where I have found my numismatic home. My goal is to deconstruct any potential purchase and use an analytical eye with respect to the surfaces of the piece and how those surfaces might have come about over time.
I’m picky, I’ll state that upfront. As a consequence of this collecting and dealing philosophy I look at or examine large numbers of coins, but not many of those coins are subsequently purchased by me, either for my collection or for the collections of my clients. Following are some examples of pieces that have “made the cut” as it were, and that have found themselves tucked away into my own collection. They may not have the “WOW!” factor for every collector, but they sure appear uber-cool to me
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Comments
<< <i>One bit of history that gets illuminated quite a bit in those black hole years is the discovery of gold in California. >>
Hello Dahlonega as well
If I had not been following posts by you, RYK and others here I probably wouldn't have bought this:
1839 Half-Dime MS65
1836 Dime MS64
1838 Dime No Drapery MS64
1838 Half Dollar AU55
1838 Half Dollar MS63
1839-O Half Dollar EF45
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
<< <i>They may not have the “WOW!” factor for every collector, but they sure appear uber-cool to me >>
Depends on ones definition of "WOW" factor. If it is a dipped coin with secondary so-called rainbow toning, they can have all they want.
I'll take this "drab" original look any day. Good stuff.
Your 1839-O looks very high end for EF. That's one heck of a coin. How long did it take to find that one?
<< <i>Wow! There are some beautiful coins added to this thread. Even the one deleted by crypto79 was very cool!
1839 Half-Dime MS65
1836 Dime MS64
1838 Dime No Drapery MS64
1838 Half Dollar AU55
1838 Half Dollar MS63
1839-O Half Dollar EF45 >>
I had just posted the 40(o) to a low ball thread and didn't want to be called a spammer
I had to have the pair 39o & 40(o) in my collection so I found them as low grade as I could because I put most of my monies into Trade $1s. Now I would love to add a 39 reeded half with small letters Rev to complete my little set but I not so sure if that will happen. Here is my 39o, it is what it is.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I love coins from this era. I've thought of building an 1839 set. I have all five large cents, a $5g from Charlotte, two CBH's, a seated half (w/ drapery). Lots left to acquire, including pricey gold. Guess I'll have to consider this some more.
Lance.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Here is one that barely squeaks into your date range.
Not really looking for much these days but if I were, it might be a toner.
Check out some of my 1794 Large Cents on www.coingallery.org
<< <i>Nice coins and images. I guess you can never have too many RE halves! >>
Yes, I even have more that I didn't post to this thread.
A couple folks have mentioned the 1839-O in EF45 and yes, it also appears to me to be better than any other EF coin I have ever seen. It would populate any virtual box of twenty grouping that I could put together. This is an issue that I always inspect when they are for sale and I'd venture to say that it took six years or so of searching before this one turned up in auction and I had to bid mightily for it, but that was a good strategy.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
<< <i>TomB, great coins--now you need to add some nice 1839 Large Cents. A Booby head, Silly Head, Head of 1838, and a Head of 1840 would look great with your grouping. TomT. >>
Now you're just killing me!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
PCGS Registries
Box of 20
SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!
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<< <i>Nice coins and images. I guess you can never have too many RE halves! >>
Yes, I even have more that I didn't post to this thread.
A couple folks have mentioned the 1839-O in EF45 and yes, it also appears to me to be better than any other EF coin I have ever seen. It would populate any virtual box of twenty grouping that I could put together. This is an issue that I always inspect when they are for sale and I'd venture to say that it took six years or so of searching before this one turned up in auction and I had to bid mightily for it, but that was a good strategy. >>
In fact, the board member took out the 1837 Reeded Edge and enjoyed it again after reading this. I'd post a photo if I had one -- thanks again, Tom.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
nice slabbed set of all major large cent dates and varieties from 1830 to 1843 (which I have never bothered to photograph, perhaps someday). But here are few other coins to add to the thread. A few of these have been sold to forum members, but I retain the right to show pics
Happy Independence Day!
siliconvalleycoins.com
A couple of mine
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
<< <i>Those are sure WOW coins to me......and I really love the 1839-O half. If I were doing a box of 20 that coin would be in it! >>
I can only assume you are talking about my 39-o and to that I say thanks. Don't give up hope, with time, limited budget and with little regard towards quality you can find one just like mine one day if you're lucky
Many members on this forum that now it cannot fit in my signature. Please ask for entire list.
<< <i>TomB, great coins--now you need to add some nice 1839 Large Cents. A Booby head, Silly Head, Head of 1838, and a Head of 1840 would look great with your grouping. TomT. >>
Well...here are some photos for the time being:
Check out some of my 1794 Large Cents on www.coingallery.org
Cardinal, I had to do a double take on your 1839 (Head of '38). The color is so very close to the 1837 N13 I once owned. The '37 came by way of Flynn-Naftzger-Reynolds. Looks like Naf. like the sea-green copper.
siliconvalleycoins.com
an 1837 I have had for a long time
Just a totally original and lustrous 1838, photo does not do this one justice.
And not the highest graded but one of the least problematic of the 10 known of a very tough coin.
Glad to see there is some excitement for this "dull" period in the mint's history.
Not a coin with great toning as I would prefer and the reflective surfaces tend to show more hairlines than I prefer but sometimes you gotta take what you can get.
<< <i>Great thread, and some wonderful copper cardinal!
What a wonderful looking coin !
Restruck date ? Roller marks ? Adds character to an already charming piece !
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
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this is one of my dream coins and the reason I went out and found a low grade 1840 (o) as it is almost a counter coin as the 39 small letters is a CBH obv & a SLH Rev and my coin is a SLH obv & a CBH REV although mine is formed form a disorganization new branch mint and the other one is probably a pattern. I will go and add my coin back to the thread
In many ways, the act of preservation impresses me more than the actual coin itself.