Sunday, March 12, 2017

JR Newsletter: 12 March 2017 (335)






We have a couple of contributions this week.  First, from Sheridan Downey:

I too spotted the misspelling of Elton's last name in the Kagin's catalogue.  Elton was my bust half mentor for 15 years.  I'll not forget the time he reminded me how to spell his last name, "It's Dosier, with an S as in sugar," he said.  I still I jump out of my skin when I see it spelled with a Z.

Sheridan
------

And from yours truly:

Recall that last week, I wrote about a semi-exciting new find in my 1834 LM-3 half dime graded PCGS MS63.  I mentioned that it was an upgrade over the PCGS AU58 CAC coin that was my set piece.  What I did not mention was something else about my AU58 half dime that I did not know a week ago.

A friend asked me what I was going to do with my "duplicate" 1834 LM-3.  I told him I would have to check my notes to see what I paid for it.  I checked my notes, and my notes are notoriously devoid of detail much of the time.  I am not so great at recording date of purchase, price paid, source of coin, etc.  So I started searching for information.  I think I found the price paid.  I think I found the seller's name.  Then I recalled a lesson I learned only last year when I almost sold a Logan-McCloskey plate coin accidentally because of my inferior record-keeping.  I decided to compare my coin against the coin on page 250 of "Federal Half Dimes 1792-1837."  I thought, "hmm, these coins look alike, but I did not buy this as a plate coin, I know the seller never mentioned it as a plate coin, and my sparse notes make no indication that this is a plate coin."  So I started to look more closely.  I examined marks, toning spots, and other markers.  Despite the appearance that my coin was lighter than the image in the book, the markers appeared to line up.  Imagine my surprise when I came to the conclusion that my "duplicate" was THE plate coin from the half dime book!

Of course, I had to tell my friend about my discovery and that I would not be entertaining the sale of the coin at this time.  I guess each of us should make such checks before we sell our coins, right?  You never know!

Richard Meaney

Here's that "duplicate" coin…the plate coin from page 250: