Sunday, December 7, 2014

JR Newsletter: 7 December 2014 (218)



We have three contributions this week. 

First, from Alan Bricker:

Responding to the recent inquiries regarding the existence of a Bust Dime VIM
by Jules Reiver, I can affirm that at one time Jules did consider doing an early
dime VIM and he asked me about possibly joining with him on such a project.

However, following the 1984 release of the JR dime reference, we felt that doing
an early dime VIM was not a priority relative to other denominations which were
lacking availability of up-to-date reference material.

Therefore, although we had dime variety notes, no early dime VIM was published.

Alan Bricker
------

Next, Jim Matthews shared a recent "treasure-hunting" adventure:

Here's what I did on a rainy Friday afternoon in Virginia. Attending the Weyer's Cave Show not too far from home, a dealer friend of mine who purchases low grade examples of coins to supply museums with real coins for novices to buy had a large selection of early silver coins held aside for me. These real but worn coins are sold to museums instead of those dreaded "copy" coins that appear in deal after deal that do nothing but confuse the gullible. I went through this group quickly, all low grade (the best was maybe VG with damage), most were Fair-2 or AG-3, several were virtually worn smooth on the reverse. The group included about 100 Capped Bust half dimes, and probably 400-500 Capped Bust dimes. The better grade coins were sold to other sources long before this heap was assembled. I flipped and studied as quickly as possible, looking for easy to find varieties. Nothing of great interest appeared that I recognized. I did buy 5 1820 dimes, a couple of 1821 dimes, one 1824/2, a trio of 1825s and two 1827s. A few others that interested me, including one 1834 with the trio of reverse cuds and an 1830 with a countermark with the date 1856. I did not see any 1829 Curl Base 2 coins, or any 1822s hanging around in the mound of history.

Its not often one gets to wade through what is undoubtedly a more or less virgin hoard of coins. These come from non-numismatic sources and likely represent coins that were in circulation in the 1850s and later given their extremely worn condition. I apologize for the attached lousy iPhone photo, but like the coins, it gets the general idea across. Treasure hunting is alive and well in Shenandoah Valley today.

Jim Matthews


------

Finally, Sheridan Downey wrote with an update for his planned FUN mail bid sale:

The Lot List for Mail Bid Sale No. 40 that I sent last week had a few omissions and errors, notably a failure to list the coins with CAC stickers.  A revised version is attached.  Your readers should note that all coins are graded by PCGS unless otherwise noted.  The sale closes during the FUN show, Thursday evening Jan. 8 at 6:30 PM EST.  Lance Keigwin's photos of the coins are now available are my web site, www.sheridanscoins.com.  I continue to encourage collectors to preview lots by overnight mail.  I'm working on the catalog now and hope to have it in the mail before Christmas.  It will also be posted on my web site.
 
Sheridan

LOT LIST -- MAIL BID SALE NO. 40 Closing Thurs. Jan. 8, 2015 6:30 PM EST
PART 1 - SELECTIONS FROM THE COLLECTION OF KEITH DAVIGNON -- LOTS 1- 24
LOT
DATE/VARIETY/RARITY
PCGS GRADE
1
1808 O.109a R.3
AU 58 CAC
2
1810 O.102a R.1
XF 40 OGH CAC
3
1811 Sm.8 O.105a R.2
AU 58 OGH
4
1811 Sm. 8 O.107 R.4
AU 58
5
1811 Sm.8 O.113 R.5
AU 53
6
1813 O.108 R.3
AU 58 CAC
7
1818 O.109 R.1
AU 58 CAC
8
1824/1 O.102 R.5+
AU 53 CAC
9
1827 O.136 R.4
AU 58 CAC
10
1827 O.142 R.3
MS 61 CAC
11
1827 O.143 R.3
AU 55 CAC
12
1829 O.105a R.1
MS 62
13
1830 Sm.0 O.107a R.2
MS 63
14
1831 O.109 R.1
MS 63
15
1832 O.110 R.1
AU 58 OGH CAC
16
1832 O.116 R.3
AU 58 CAC
17
1832 O.121 R.3
AU 58 OGH CAC
18
1833 O.106 R.2
MS 62
19
1834 SDSL O.111 R.1
AU 58 OGH
20
1835 O.105 R.1
AU 58
21
1836 O.101 R.1
AU 58
22
1836 O.102 R.3
AU 55 CAC
23
1836/1336 O.108a R.2
AU 58 CAC
24
1836 O.122 R.2
AU 58 CAC
PART 2 - PROPERTIES OF VARIOUS CONSIGNORS - LOTS 25 TO 79
LOT
DATE/VARIETY/RARITY
PCGS GRADE
25
1807 50/20 Rev. O.112 R.1
AU 58 CAC
26
1808/7 O.101 R.1
AU 50
27
1808 O.110a  R.4+
VF 35
28
1809 O.103 R.1
AU 50 CAC
29
1809 O.109a III Edge R.2
AU 50
30
1809 O.111 R.4?
AU 50
31
1810 O.102a R.2
XF 45 CAC
32
1811/10 O.101 R.1
AU 53
33
1811/10 O.101 R.1
XF 45
34
1811 Sm.8 O.113 R.5
VF 35
35
1812/1 Large 8 O.101 R.5-
VF 25 CAC
36
1812/1 Small 8 O.102 R.2
XF 45
37
1812 O.106 R.3
NGC AU 58
38
1813 O.102 R.4
NGC AU 58
39
1813 O.103 R.2
AU 53
40
1813 O.105 R.1
AU 50
LOT
DATE/VARIETY/RARITY
PCGS GRADE
41
1813 O.108a R.2
AU 50
42
1814/3 O.101a R.2
AU 53
43
1814 O.106a R.4+
NGC MS 62
44
1818/7 Sm.8 O.102 R.2
AU 50
45
1818 Pincher 8's O.108 R.1
AU 50 CAC
46
1818 O.109 R.1
XF 45 CAC
47
1819/8 Lg.9 O.102 R.2
AU 50
48
1819 O.115 R.3
AU 50
49
1820/19 Sq. Base 2 O.101a R.3
AU 50
50
1820/19 Curl Base 2 O.102 R.1
AU 53
51
1820 Lg. Dt., Sq.2 w/ Knob O.105 R.1
AU 50
52
1820 Lg. Dt., Sq.2 No Knob O.108 R.2
AU 53
53
1821 O.101a R.1
AU 55 OGH
54
1822/1 O.101 R.1
AU 55
55
1822 O.109 R.2
MS 62 CAC
56
1823 Broken 3 O.101 R.3
XF 40
57
1823 Patched 3 O.101a R.1
XF 45
58
1823 Patched 3 O.102 R.4
Raw XF 45
59
1823 O.103 R.2
AU 55 CAC
60
1823 O.104 R.3
AU 55
61
1823 O.104"a" R.5?
AU 50
62
1823 O.106a R.2
AU 55
63
1824/1 O.101a R.2
AU 50
64
1826 O.102 R.1
AU 58 CAC
65
1826 O.119 R.4
AU 58 CAC
66
1827/6 O.102 R.1
AU 50
67
1827 O.109 R. 4-
AU 50
68
1827 O.136 R.4
NGC AU 58
69
1828 Sq. Base 2, Sm.8's O.110 R.2
AU 55 CAC
70
1829/7 O.101 R.1
AU 53
71
1829 O.103 R.1
AU 58
72
1829 O.105 R.1
AU 53
73
1831 O.103 R.1
AU 55 CAC
74
1832 O.103 R.1
AU 55 OGH
75
1832 O.116 R.3
AU 53 CAC
76
1832 O.118 R.1
AU 55 CAC
77
1832 No Tail Feathers O.120 R.3
AU 58 CAC
78
1834 Lg. Dt. & Ltrs. O.103 R.2
AU 50 CAC
79
1834 Lg. Dt., Sm. Ltrs. O.105 R.1
NGC AU 55
80
1834 Lg. Dt., Sm. Ltrs. O.106 R.1
AU 58
81
1836 O.105 R.4-
AU 53
82
1836/1336 O.108a R.2
AU 55
PART 3 - A SELECT GROUP OF BUST DIMES AND QUARTERS -- LOTS 83- 91
LOT
DATE/VARIETY/RARITY
PCGS GRADE
83
1811/09 10¢ JR-1 R.3
VF 35
84
1814 Lg. Date 10¢ JR-4 R.2
XF 40 CAC
85
1821 Lg. Date 10¢ JR-1 R.2
NGC AU 58
86
1828 Lg. Date 10¢ JR-2 R.3
XF 45 CAC
87
1833 10¢ JR-1 R.3
AU 55 CAC
LOT
DATE/VARIETY/RARITY
PCGS GRADE
88
1834 Lg.4 10¢ JR-5 R.1
AU 50 CAC
89
1836 10¢ JR-3 R.3
AU 55 CAC
90
1806/5 25¢ B.1 R.2
VF 30 CAC
91
1828 25¢ B.4 R.3
XF 45 CAC






Sunday, November 30, 2014

JR Newsletter: 30 November 2014 (217)



We have three contributions this week.  First, in response to an inquiry by Winston Zack, something from Paul Kluth:

In reply to Winston Zack's request in the November 9th JR Newsletter about a recording or summary of Jim Matthews' Contemporary Counterfeit talk at the recent Whitman Baltimore Coin Show in late October...

It was with great disappointment that John Frost and I couldn't somehow web cast or record Jim's talk in Baltimore.  The informal talk and discussion among the attendees was excellent and extremely enjoyable.  Jim brought many nice examples of both contemporary and modern counterfeits across different U.S. series and denominations that everyone could pick up and observe coin-in-hand.

Of particular interest to JRCS members were of course the fake Bust Halves and other Bust denominations.  Many in attendance were members of JRCS, LSCC and BCCS, and many of the conversations centered around topics found in the book "Contemporary Counterfeit Capped Bust Half Dollars" by Keith Davignon.

Earlier that day, John and I attempted to web cast the meetings for both the Liberty Seated Collectors Club and the Barber Coin Collectors Society, but unfortunately there was no WiFi access provided by the Baltimore Convention Center in the meeting rooms where the show took place.  Even though a sponsoring company in Baltimore provided free public access, the consistency of the internet connection in the rooms was very unreliable, thus we gave up trying to record the JRCS meeting.

Now, from the standpoint of web casting or recording Jim's talk, it would have been a little awkward too, since the presentation wasn't intended to be a formal PowerPoint presentation that would lend itself for easy recording and later access by club members or via YouTube.  It would have been a little difficult as well to capture video of the coins close-up while discussions were going on.  But I think it would still have been an interesting talk to record for later playback nonetheless and enjoyment by others not in attendance.

Very neat what Jim Matthews shared in Baltimore and thanks again!

Paul Kluth
------

Brad Karoleff wrote:

I response to John's inquiry about a DIME VIM. I have never seen one. I have the half dime, quarter, and reeded edge half dollar VIMs in my library. 

I have never heard of a dime one. Anyone else?

Brad Karoleff

(editor's note:  John Okerson is looking for a Half Dime Variety Identification Manual, all typographical errors notwithstanding)
------

Finally, from Sheridan Downey:

I thought readers might like a peek at the attached Lot List for my upcoming Mail Bid Sale #40.  The Sale will close Jan. 7 during the FUN Show in Orlando.  Photos of the coins and more info regarding the Sale will be posted on my oft neglected web site later this week.  Readers with interest in bidding in the Sale are welcome to request a catalogue by emailing me at sdowney3(at)aol.com

Kind regards,
 Sheridan



LOT LIST -- MAIL BID SALE NO. 40 Closing Jan. 7, 2015 6:00 PM EST
PART 1 - SELECTIONS FROM THE COLLECTION OF KEITH DAVIGNON -- LOTS 1- 24
LOT
DATE/VARIETY/RARITY
PCGS GRADE
1
1808 O.109a R.3
AU 58
2
1810 O.102a R.1
XF 40 OGH
3
1811 Sm.8 O.105a R.2
AU 58 OGH
4
1811 Sm. 8 O.107 R.4
AU 58
5
1811 Sm.8 O.113 R.5
AU 53
6
1813 O.108 R.3
AU 58
7
1818 O.109 R.1
AU 58
8
1824/1 O.102 R.5+
AU 53
9
1827 O.136 R.4
AU 58
10
1827 O.142 R.3
MS 61
11
1827 O.143 R.3
AU 55
12
1829 O.105 R.1
MS 62
13
1830 Sm.0 O.107a R.2
MS 63
14
1831 O.109 R.1
MS 63
15
1832 O.110 R.1
MS 63 OGH
16
1832 O.116 R.3
AU 58
17
1832 O.121 R.3
AU 58 OGH
18
1833 O.106 R.2
MS 62
19
1834 SDSL O.111 R.1
AU 58 OGH
20
1835 O.105 R.1
AU 58
21
1836 O.101 R.1
AU 58
22
1836 O.102 R.3
AU 55
23
1836/1336 O.108a R.2
AU 58
24
1836 O.122 R.2
AU 58
PART 2 - PROPERTIES OF VARIOUS CONSIGNORS - LOTS 25 TO 79
LOT
DATE/VARIETY/RARITY
PCGS GRADE
25
1808/7 O.101 R.1
AU 50
26
1808 O.110a  R.4+
VF 35
27
1809 O.103 R.1
AU 50
28
1809 O.109a III Edge R.2
AU 50
29
1809 O.111 R.4?
AU 50
30
1810 O.102a R.2
XF 45
31
1811/10 O.101 R.1
AU 53
32
1811/10 O.101 R.1
XF 45
33
1811 Sm.8 O.113 R.5
VF 35
34
1812/1 Large 8 O.101 R.5-
VF 25
35
1812 Small 8 O.102 R.2
XF 45
36
1812 O.106 R.3
NGC AU 58
37
1813 O.102 R.4
NGC AU 58
38
1813 O.103 R.2
AU 53
39
1813 O.105 R.1
AU 50
40
1813 O.108a R.2
AU 50
41
1814/3 O.101a R.2
AU 53
42
1814 O.106a R.4+
NGC MS 62
43
1818/7 Sm.8 O.102 R.2
AU 50
44
1818 Pincher 8's O.108 R.1
AU 50
45
1818 O.109 R.1
XF 45
46
1819/8 Lg.9 O.102 R.2
AU 50
47
1819 O.115 R.3
AU 50
48
1820/19 Sq. Base 2 O.101a R.3
AU 50
49
1820/19 Curl Base 2 O.102 R.1
AU 50
50
1820 Lg. Dt., Sq.2 w/ Knob O.105 R.1
AU 50
51
1820 Lg. Dt., Sq.2 No Knob O.105 R.2
AU 53
52
1821 O.101a R.1
AU 55
53
1822/1 O.101 R.1
AU 55
54
1822 O.109 R.2
MS 62
55
1823 Broken 3 O.101 R.3
XF 40
56
1823 Patched 3 O.101a R.1
XF 45
57
1823 Patched 3 O.102 R.4
Raw XF 45
58
1823 O.103 R.2
AU 55
59
1823 O.104 R.3
AU 55
60
1823 O.104"a" R.5?
AU 50
61
1823 O.106a R.2
AU 55
62
1824/1 O.101a R.2
AU 50
63
1826 O.102 R.1
AU 58
64
1826 O.119 R.4
AU 58
65
1827/6 O.102 R.1
AU 50
66
1827 O.109 R. 4-
AU 50
67
1827 O.136 R.4
NGC AU 58
68
1828 Sq. Base 2, Sm.8's O.110 R.2
AU 55
69
1829/7 O.101 R.1
AU 53
70
1829 O.103 R.1
AU 58
71
1829 O.105 R.1
AU 53
72
1831 O.103 R.1
AU 55
73
1832 O.103 R.1
AU 55
74
1832 O.116 R.3
AU 53
75
1832 O.118 R.1
AU 55
76
1832 No Tail Feathers O.120 R.3
AU 58
77
1834 Lg. Dt. & Ltrs. O.103 R.2
AU 50
78
1834 Lg. Dt., Sm. Ltrs. O.105 R.1
NGC AU 55
79
1834 Lg. Dt., Sm. Ltrs. O.105 R.1
AU 58
80
1836 O.105 R.4-
AU 53
81
1836/1336 O.108a R.2
AU 55
PART III - A SELECT GROUP OF BUST DIMES AND QUARTERS -- LOTS 82- 91
LOT
DATE/VARIETY/RARITY
PCGS GRADE
82
1811/09 10¢ JR-1 R.3
VF 35
84
1814 Lg. Date 10¢ JR-4 R.2
XF 40
85
1821 Lg. Date 10¢ JR-1 R.2
NGC AU 58
86
1828 Lg. Date 10¢ JR-2 R.3
XF 45
87
1833 10¢ JR-1 R.3
AU 55
88
1834 Lg.4 10¢ JR-5 R.1
AU 50
89
1836 10¢ JR-3 R.3
AU 55
90
1806/5 25¢ B.1 R.2
VF 30
91
1828 25¢ B.4 R.3
XF 45

Sunday, November 23, 2014

JR Newsletter: 23 November 2014 (216)

We have two contributions this week.

John Okerson wrote with a second inquiry regarding obtaining an ORIGINAL version of the Reiver VIM for half dimes (not a photo copy):

Wanted!  Does anyone have Jules Reiver's Variety Identification Manual for United States Dimes 1796-1837 that they would be willing to part with?  Hard to tell if it even exists.
 
John Okerson
johnokerson(at)gmail.com
------

Jim Matthews wrote:

Happy Thanksgiving to all my numismatic friends! I hope that everyone can take a day or two out of this busy time to reflect on the blessings of the year, our families, friends and adventures of 2014. Each person has their own abundance and now is the time to recognize these gifts. This has been another year of change and excitement for me, which is a continuing theme in my life. Collections come and go, but the friends stay on and grow!

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at FUN and at shows in the future.

Jim

Sunday, November 16, 2014