Sunday, February 20, 2011

JR Newsletter: 20 February 2011 (24)

Comments to Rick Beale and others interested to include Reeded Edge haves with lettered edge bust halves and Overton references.  One opinion may be that reeded edge halves may not be included with Overton numbers or references because these coins were minted  in closed collars with the use of steam power from 1836 on. 
Lettered edge halves were minted in open collars, which means that the edge lettering was added prior to having the obverse and reverse struck.  In addition, the lettered edge halves were struck from 1836 and earlier by the use of manual and animal power to produce these coins.  A big difference in technology, that may be used as a standard for separation. 
Another point if someone wants to include both types in one reference book, it will involve getting approval from the Overton family to amend the book.  Jules Reiver published his reference "Variety Idenfication Manual for United States Reeded Edge Half Dollars 1836-1839"  in 1988.  I think that if the two references were to come together, it would of happened by now.  My two cents worth.
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Frank Goss wrote:

With respect to Rick Beale's thought that he had seen a compilation of Reeded Edge die varieties as a PDF on the Heritage web site some time ago, but can't find it now - I remember that PDF.  It was the "Variety Identification Manual for United States Reeded Edge Half Dollars 1836 - 1839 Copyright Jules Reiver 1988".  However it did not have the "Additional Reeded Edge Half Dollar" pages for the 10 additional varieties identified by about 1997.  Heritage had a link to the PDF file with each Reeded Edge Half in the sale of Jules Reiver's colllection, Heritage sales 390 and 391, January 2006, but their archives no longer show that link.  I think they continued providing that link with other reeded edge halves in later sales for a while.  In the introduction to the VIM, Jules states "This is a preliminary work, and will grow only with the help of the collectors.  New varieties will be added, and some existing ones may be dropped.  ... JR numbers refer to John Reich numbers.  Since the reeded edge half dollars are of the bust type, they are listed by the John Reich Society, even though they were engraved by Christian Gobrecht.  Any collectors of early silver coins should belong to the Society." and he gave the address of the Society at that time.  From my association with Jules, I believe he loved all early coins by variety, and did a great amount of research on them.  To identify 58 varieties and only have 10 more identified in the following 10 years speaks well for a "preliminary" work.  I look forward to Jim Matthews' update.
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John Morgan wrote:
My name is John M. Morgan from Fairmont WV and I have a complete set of the John Reich Journals, starting with Volume 1, No 1, which I'm interested in selling. They all are in excellent condition. If anyone is interested, please email me at nagrom4 (at) labyrinth.net
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Rich Uhrich wrote:
I don't know if you have seen this yet or not, but here is a thread about an unknown buyer obtaining an 1831 B-7 quarter in Fine or so for $1,613.

Here are two links:

The ebay auction:  ebay link to 1831 quarter

Discussion on the Collectors Universe Forums:  http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&threadid=806685

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