JR Newsletter: 9 August 2026 (698)

Steve Herrman wrote:

 

Prices Realized Publications for Bust Halves and Early Dollars

 

The ANA World's Fair of Money in Pittsburgh, PA is rapidly approaching.

 

Prices realized publications for Bust half dollars 1794-1839 and for Early Silver Dollars 1794-1803 are still available in both printed and PDF formats from Steve Herrman.

 

Contact Steve immediately at herrman102 (at) aol.com if you need a printed copy prior to the ANA convention. Printed copies (coil-bound and shrink-wrapped) are shipped via Media Mail in a rigid mailer. PDF format copies are delivered via email. All prices listed below are postpaid.

 

Semi-Annual, Spring 2026 edition, Number 68, of Auction and Mail Bid Prices Realized for Bust Half Dollars 1794-1839 (AMBPR), 268 pages. 8.5 x 11, coil-bound ($40), PDF ($28), both ($46). Bank checks, Zelle and PayPal F&F accepted.

 

Annual, Summer 2026 edition, Number 14, of Auction Prices Realized for Certified & Graded Bust Half Dollars 1794-1839 (APRCG), 129 pages. 8.5 x 11, coil-bound ($33), PDF ($23), both ($38). Bank checks, Zelle and PayPal F&F accepted.

 

Annual, Winter 2025 edition, Number 7, of Auction Prices Realized for Early Silver Dollars 1794-1803 (APRESD), 82 pages. 8.5 x 11, coil-bound ($40), PDF ($28), both ($46). Bank checks, Zelle and PayPal F&F accepted.

--

 

Sheridan Downey wrote:

 

Readers should know that it’s not too late to book a flight and grab a hotel room for the World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburgh, August 24-29.  The ANA does a fine job publicizing its educational programs and auctions to be conducted by Great Collections, Heritage and Stack’s/Bowers.  For bust half collectors there is much more.  

 

Mark your calendars for 6 PM EDT Wednesday and Thursday nights, Aug. 26-27.  

My Mail Bid Sale 62 closes Wednesday night.  The 144-lot sale has something for everyone.  Part 1 of the Sale, lots 1-86, will appeal to Registry Set collectors.  It features a panoply of colorful, high-grade coins, together with popular Red Book and rare Overton varieties. Part 2 presents a delightful assortment of 57 encapsulated Capped Bust halves in grades that range from Fine through Mint State.  Highlights of the sale include an 1815/2 PCGS AU 55 CAC, the 1814 E/A and 1823 Patched 3, each graded PCGS AU 58, an AU 181.7 Punctuated Date and a gloriously toned 1820 Curl Base 2, PCGS AU 58 CAC.  The complete list may be found here: https://www.sheridanscoins.com/inc_active-mb.php.  Lot viewing by overnight mail or FedEx is available this week for those unable to make it to Pittsburgh.

The 6 PM Thursday night deadline belongs to Ray and Phil Hinkelman as they present Part 2 of E. Blake Riker’s wonderful date and variety set of early half-dollars, 1795-1807.  A pair of my all-time favorite coins are in the sale.  I was the happy buyer of Eric Newman’s 1805/4 O.103a NGC AU 55 CAC at the Newman sale in November 2013.  In 1987 I was at the Long Beach show when Richard Pugh found an 1805 O.114 in J.J. Teaparty’s bourse case.  In later years I had the pleasure of offering the coin to Robinson S. Brown, Jr., Barrett Broyde and Dr. Charles Link.  It was a disappointment when the coin failed to sell against its reserve of $65,000 in my January 2025 Fun Show sale, MB 59.  Check out the rest of the Odyssey Collection here: https://www.eyeappealingcoins.com/overton-odyssey-collection.html.

 

Best,

   Sheridan

 

 

 

 

JR Newsletter: 2 August 2026 (697)

Bill Nyberg wrote:

Discovery of 1797 JR-2 Dime Transfer Die Counterfeits

     “1797 Bust dime - genuine or counterfeit?” was the question of a PCGS Forum thread posted on July 24, 2026. The piece had hairlines from cleaning, but most considered it to be a genuine coin with problems. I responded and posted images “Interesting. Check the diameter. Count the edge reeds. At first glance it looks genuine, then I compared with my PCGS VG10 of the 1797 JR2. Compare the 2 small diagonal scratches on the neck on each coin, along with a longer diagonal scratch starting at the bottom of the two scratches to hair. The reverse has post-mint marks that are similar to OP coin, small dig with cratering between S and T, dig on leaf below R, scratch just off end of D to leaf, others.”

     Further diagnostic analysis and additional specimens identified by Heritage Auctions catalogers confirmed those examples as being transfer die counterfeits of 1797 JR-2, which is the very scarce 13 Stars major variety. At least ten counterfeits have been identified, with eight encapsulated by third party grading, both graded and details/genuine with the highest grade VG10, and two raw pieces. One was auctioned in 2007, and the subject item was purchased “about 20 years ago at a coin show.” It is important to note that the genuine host coin has not been identified, and it could be one of the examples. Additional research is being done, and more detailed information will be published on these deceptive counterfeits.

     Transfer die counterfeits are difficult to detect because the host coin design can be transferred exactly to counterfeit dies and then struck as opposed to being cast. Very few Draped Bust dime counterfeits were previously known. From the 1984 reference book Early United States Dimes 1796 – 1837, “The 1800 Var. 2 dime has the dubious distinction of being the only variety of heraldic eagle dime seen by the authors that has been counterfeited.”

Image of the subject coin and the PCGS VG10 example: