This week, we have contributions from David Finkelstein and David Perkins. First, from David Finkelstein:
David Finkelstein and Christopher Pilliod gave a presentation at the JRCS General Meeting during the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Philadelphia in August. The presentation was on the first phase of a multi-phase project to determine the chemical composition of 1794 and 1795 U. S. silver coins. Part 1 of a multi-part article series was published in the September 23, 2018 John Reich Newsletter. Part 2 was published in the October 7, 2018 John Reich Newsletter. Part 3 was published in the October 21, 2018 John Reich Newsletter. Linked here is Part 4:
David
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From David Perkins:
I returned from the Whitman Baltimore coin show a week ago. Whether you are a collector, dealer, or both, you should enjoy this story. It can be titled, “Wish I was there!”
A dealer friend of mine from the East Coast knows a collector of U.S. coins based in Europe. Earlier this year he met the collector in London and was able to look through the collection, mostly stored in 2X2 paper envelopes. The majority of the coins in this collection were collected and put away in the 1950s and 1960s, before grading and plastic took hold in the marketplace. In the last couple of months, the dealer met with the collector, this time in Germany, and was able to look through his bank box and purchase a second group of coins from the collection.
What is unusual is that this collector liked and collected Capped Bust Half Dollars by die marriage. And he collected them while living in Europe! I was able to purchase some of these half dollars and a few type coins in Baltimore prior to the start of the Baltimore show. In this group of CBHs there were some overdates and a number of R-4 and R-5 die marriages and die states by Overton number, “fresh” as we say today, and off the market for decades.
One of my favorites is the 1814 O-106, R-4+ graded PCGS XF45 but you can argue it should be graded more like AU50+. It has some die breaks and clashing which you can see in the photo. Another is an 1822/1 O-102, R-4+, in PCGS XF45. And while only R-2, a lovely 1817/3 half dollar in PCGS XF45, with the 3 showing prominently under the 7 in the date. And lastly for those who like late die states, an 1838 Reeded Edge 50C with shattered reverse die in PCGS XF45.
I shared the 1814 O-106 with Capped Bust Half Dollar collector and specialist Steve Herrman and was rewarded with Steve sharing with me his PCGS AU53 example of O-106a, a much later die state coin with much more clashing and some dramatic die breaks. The description for O-106a in the Overton book reads,
Rev. F-s2. There are severe die cracks. A break from rim near left wing tip divides into two main branches, the lower beak crosses leaves, top of 50 C. and arrowheads to edge near middle arrowhead. A small branch from top of C. crosses arrow points to edge above C. The other main branch crosses shield, right wing and R to edge. Still another from base of R to top of right wing curves under scroll.
1814 O-106 is rated R-4+, while the later die state (O-106a, with all the neat die breaks) is R-5. It was fun to see and compare both examples.
AU53 shown first, then the XF45:
“Wish I’d been there” pulling these half dollars and other coins out of the envelopes after 50 plus years! But I did get to see and acquire some of them.
The Baltimore show seemed a little “quieter” than past shows but was still a pretty good one for me. And as always, I enjoyed seeing and talking with the many JRCS members in attendance.
New Purchases including all the Capped Bust Half Dollars: http://www.davidperkinsrarecoins.com/new-purchases.html
Other new purchases are out for photographs and should be posted over the next week.
Website: www.davidperkinsrarecoins.com
W. David Perkins
Centennial, CO
wdperki(at)attglobal.net
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