JR Newsletter: 3 April 2011 (30)

Brad Karoleff received the following note from Brenda Logan:

Hello Brad.  This latest issue of the JRCS Journal was terrific!  We were all so excited to learn of the new dime discovery.  How Russell would have loved that!  Makes even me want to go out and search for one.

We have quite a few dime and half-dime books listed for sale on the Loganberry web site.  I noticed that someone has offered to make xerox copies for members who need the book, but they might also be interested to know that they can buy a brand-new copy for $150 each from us.  If you think it's appropriate, please get this word out.  We have thought of putting them on-line at Amazon, but have resisted, and we don't participate.

Thanks again for a memorable publication, and keep up the good work.
Brenda Logan

http://loganberrybooks.com

------

Gary Rosner wrote:

Can either of you please email me the address that I can mail a check to order the new Quarter book. I went to the website and it locked up my computer and I had to do a hard shutdown and then a 20 minute security check and restart. I don’t want to go to that website again. My security software showed it as unsecured.

 

I want order the new book by mailing someone a check.

 

Thanks for you help.

 

Gary Rosner

PS: There may be other people who would like to order the book as well so listed the mailing address in the JR Newsletter may be helpful to others?

Editor's Note:  I contacted Gary and provided the information he sought.  For those who may have had similar problems, here is the information:

To order the new quarter book, send a check for $110 made out to "Browning Quarter Book" to Brad Karoleff, 8077-B Connector Drive, Florence, KY 41042.  You can send Brad an email at bkaroleff (at) yahoo.com or call him at 859.371.1414 if you wish to ask questions or inquire about the leather-bound limited edition available later this year ($500).

------

Alan Bricker wrote in response to two other contributors:

First:

I am commenting in regard to Winston Zack's 1802 "cud" dime. This exact same coin, originally marked on its holder as an "1807" dime, appeared at the Baltimore Convention Center show in June of 2010 at the table of a vendor from Michigan. After noticing this low grade Draped Bust dime with the huge obverse "cud" in a showcase at the June 2010 show I examined it at some length, perhaps 15 minutes or so at the table after borrowing a copy of EUSD on the floor, attributing the coin as an 1802 JR-2, and informing the vendor accordingly. After studying the coin under my glass, I finally concluded that this was actually not a true cud but rather that the coin had been damaged or altered sometime after minting. Several technical factors and analytical criteria, as well as my impression of the general appearance of the "cud", led me to my own personal conclusion that this feature had not resulted from a broken die at the time of minting, and I therefore passed on purchasing this coin. The coin remained, still unsold, in the showcase of the same vendor at the fall Baltimore Convention Center show a few months later.

Second:

I am responding to Ralph Munoz regarding variety updates for the Reeded Edge Bust Half Dollars. To the best of my knowledge, no new variety update reference has been published to date for this series, although Jules Reiver did print variety updates extending his "JR" numbering sequence as "new" marriages were reported to him. During the next eight or ten years after Jules published his 1988 VIM, I identified and described to Jules three new 1837 marriages, three new 1838 marriages, one new 1839 marriage, and one new 1839-O marriage. However, Jules sent update additions for only about half of those new marriages which I described to him, therefore it is possible he may have inadvertently left out several of these new marriages.

Alan Bricker

JR Newsletter: 27 March 2011 (29)

Brad Karoleff wrote:

I hope everyone is enjoying their latest issue of The John Reich Journal, Volume 21, Issue 1.  If you have not received your issue by now you should contact me at jrcs19 (at) roadrunner.com to see why. 

Plans are underway for the next issue of the journal.  We are on a deadline for this issue due to the annual meeting at the ANA in Chicago.  I plan on publishing in the May/June time frame and would love to see some articles sent in for publication.  Please contact me at my email address above if you have any questions.  I look forward to participation from some new authors for our publication.  Please think about sharing your knowledge, or experiences collecting bust coins.  Remember also that we will be featuring the half dime census in this issue of the journal.  Half dime collectors remember to send you census information to Steve Crain at mrhalfdime (at) aol.com, or to the society's PO Box 135, Harrison, OH 45030.  We are looking forward to the largest participation ever for the half dime series!

Also,

THE NEW QUARTER BOOKS ARE HERE, IN HAND and READY TO SHIP! 

Early Quarter Dollars of the United States Mint by Rory Rea, Dr. Glenn Peterson, Bradley Karoleff and John Kovach is a reality.  The updated version of the Browning Quarter Book that we have been working on forever is available for purchase.  We have a website for those who would like a preview of our work before purchasing.  Go to browningquarterbook.com to see actual pages from the book and to get ordering information.  As you will be able to see, the book is printed in COLOR.  We have the regular edition which can be sent to you via priority mail for $110 delivered.  Please let us know if you wish a hardbound copy or a spiral bound copy, OR you can even order one of each!

We are also taking deposits of $100 to hold one of the limited leather bound editions which will be available later this year.  You will be billed the balance of $400 when your book is ready to be shipped.  You may also order a custom slipcase to protect your leather binding on the shelf for an additional $50.  Besides the leather binding which includes an impression in silver of the head of a 1796 quarter on the front you will get French endpapers, raised bands on the spine and the option to include your name on the cover.  You will also get the fantastic COLOR plates of the Eric P. Newman collection that will not be included in the standard issue.  Your book will also come autographed by the authors AND Eric Newman on a special page sewn into your book.  Act now if you are interested in the limited edition as we already have orders for over half the allotted number of 50.

We realize that many of you have been waiting a LONG time for us to get this project finished.  We have also!  The fact that the Newman collection became known to us close to the end of the project dictated our including it in the work which took great time and effort.  We think you will be glad we waited.  We sure are!  The photographs in this book will take your breath away.  Many are toned vibrant colors from decades of storage in Wayte Raymond type holders.  Did I remember to tell you that the book is printed in COLOR?  Attributions will be a cinch with our quick finding guides.  The condition census information is a result of THOUSANDS of hours of research into old auction catalogs, price lists and private transactions.  There is something here for everyone who collects bust coins or numismatic books.

------

David Quint wrote :

Due to the extreme shortage of the "dime book" (Early United States Dimes), a dime specialist has offered to make photocopies of the book for collectors interested in the series (of course in cooperation with JRCS and the authors). A $20 donation to JRCS will get the first 50 respondents a postpaid copy. Email David Quint at dquint (at) bftg.com.

------

Dave Perkins wrote:

New Book - The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint

JRCS Members and JR News readers who have not seen it yet will likely be interested in a new book, "The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint" by Joel J. Orosz and Leonard D. Augsburger.  I received my copy about two weeks ago.

The book discusses the steps leading up to the formation and opening of the first U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, Frank H. Stewart's involvement in "both destroying and saving the first Mint," extensive information about the mint and times, Artworks commissioned by Stewart and others influenced by his artworks and much more.  Two of the artworks many Numismatists are familiar with are "Ye Olde Mint" by Edwin Lamasure, Jr. and "Washington inspecting the First Money [Half Dismes] Coined by the United States by John Ward Dunsmore.  There are lots of great photographs included throughout the book. 

What was not known about Stewart was that he formed  a coin collection after purchasing the old Mint.  Stewart put together what I would term a "Date and Major Type Collection" of early dollars 1794 to 1803, with the 1794 Dollar having been altered from a 1795 B-5, BB-27 Flowing Hair Dollar.  Over the years I have come across a number of references to the date on 1795 Dollars having been altered to 1794 but had never seen an example (or a photo) until I was contacted a year or so ago by Joel and Len.  This altered date specimen is photographed on page 103 in the book, with a micro photo of the date showing the altered last digit.  There is also a plate with the other 9 early silver dollars, both obverse and reverse on page 104.  The set has a nice, matched look to it with an average grade that appears from the photos to be EF or so.  Numerous other coins and planchets (found in the old Mint) are plated in the book, from Copper (including silver center cent planchets found in the old Mint!) to Half Dimes through Dollars. 

To me this is a great addition to the library of anyone collecting early silver, copper or gold or with an interest in the history of the first U.S. Mint.  It is available from Whitman publishing. 

W. David Perkins

------

Jeff Reichenberger wrote:

I think David Quint deserves a big Thank You for is generous offer to photocopy 'Early United States Dimes' for interested JRCS members. (as posted on page 4 of the current JR Journal with cooperation from JRCS and the Authors)
The copy I received is not merely half-quality photocopies - it is a spiral bound and covered book. The print copy is good and the photos are quite good enough to see major diagnostics such as scroll position, star position, etc. Far more of a reproduction than I anticipated. With binding, covers, printing, labor, and Express shipping, one copy far exceeds the paltry $20 donation to JRCS. For donating his time and obvious financial commitment, he said it was a way for him to give back to the hobby.
Very cool David. Thanks again!

Also, does anyone know the origin of a comment made and repeated about John Reich coinage?

In 'Numismatic Art in America', Cornelius Vermeule noted, "In commenting on the Liberty, one critic remarked that the artist had put a picture of his fat mistress on the coins."

 Who was this 'one critic'? Where and when were his comments published?

------

 Jim Matthews wrote:

Re: Winston Zack's 1802 dime--

Wow, if that's a cud its a nice one! Hard to know for sure as there are no known cracks in that region on other 1802 JR-2s, and given the severity of the cud I would think the dies were misaligned--like on the 1806 B-8 quarter cuds-- where a similar fatal edge break occurred early in the dies life, another example is the 1806 O-108 half dollar (knob 6, no stem) with a reverse cud.

It's a coin I'd like to study up close, although the photos attached a couple of weeks ago were very helpful, nothing is like seeing the coin up close and personal. As is so often the case, the grade is fairly low and there is some damage on the date--but it certainly deserves study.

Also the Reeded Edge half dollar people--let's try to meet on Friday at Baltimore--that or Saturday morning--I'll be around or at the Stack's Bowers table. Time to start working on the update of the Reiver variety identification manual! 

Jim

------

Winston Zack wrote (in response to Mike Sherrill's comments):

Mike,

Thanks for your insight on the presumed 1802 JR-2 Draped Bust Dime.  When I purchased the coin I thought it was a Cud, but one that I did not recognize.  I searched as many resources as possible and found nothing which matched it.  When I looked at the EUSD emission order it did not make sense that this coin could have a Cud and be in the middle of the sequence, unless this was a die re-marriage!  But I was also not sure how set-in-stone the emission order was for the 1802 JR1, 2 and 3 die marriages, and thus I wanted to bring to light this coin and hear some opinions.

Your comment that the emission sequence goes JR-1 to JR-3 to JR-2 makes more sense if this truly is a Cud (which is the leading consensus among other early Dime collectors I have also spoken with).  I think it is still very difficult to say whether this is a Retained or Full Cud just from how much wear this coin exhibits.  Nevertheless, it is likely that the obverse die failed suddenly and was retired very shortly thereafter.

If another example exists, preferably in higher grade (because you really can't go much lower in grade than mine!), I would love to see how it compares with this example in terms of obverse die deterioration.

You also asked about die rotation.  There is no die rotation exhibited on this coin.
-Winston Zack

------

Nathan Markowitz wrote:

This will serve as the final announcement for the upcoming EAC/JRCS convention in Portland, Oregon held May 12-15 at the Lloyd Center Doubletree Hotel.  Room registration is cutoff on April 11 for guaranteed rates (you may do better online also).  We have a number of early silver speakers given by JRCS members and several prominent early silver displays.  I invite any questions.  

Events:

Thursday May 12:  Reception 5 PM...come eat and drink

                               Happenings 8-10PM...see prior posts for die marriages to be displayed.  There will be a half cent, silver, large cent, and colonial room.

       Optional Winery Tour 12-445PM

Friday May 13:      Bourse and displays 9-5PM

                              Optional Dinner to honor keynote speaker.  If interested send $50 to cover dinner entree (salmon, London broil, or portabella mushroom), salad and dessert.

      This is very popular with the EACers.

            Educational seminars (see below)

Saturday May 14:   Educational Seminars continue

Bourse open 9-5PM

Private Sale Saturday evening (copper only)

                                Optional 4 hour tour of Columbia River Gorge (think of PQ AU Silver Bust Coins....only better) 

Sunday May 15:      EAC membership meeting

                                 Bourse open

Please feel free to ask me any questions about the show or Oregon.  For those of you JRCSers who have never been to one of these they are a blast.  Fun group, cool coins and display and the location this year is near town, gardens, restaurants...its a venue even non coin spouses will like!

          Preliminary Educational Schedule:

Friday

Noon Bob Fagaly "Pricing Relationships in United States Coinage"

1PM  Buell Ish  "Introduction to Forming a New Jersey Type Collection"

2PM Bob Hoge "1794:  The Face of a 10"

3PM Steve Tompkins "Counterfeit Bust Coinage, Contemporary and Modern"

4PMMark Borckhardt "Look What Happened in Ann Arbor"

8PM  John Wright: Keynote Speaker.

Saturday

11AM  Jack Robinson:  "Update on CQR:  The Latest"

Noon  Jim Matthews:  "All Cracked Up and With Pieces Falling Out"

1PM  John Kraljevich:  "The Taste of Dogmeat: Lewis and Clark in the Pacific Northwest"

2PM  Rob Matuska:  "An Investigation of the Causes of Planchet Errors"

3PM  Jerry Bobbe:  "Copper HIPS:  Who Is The Real Perpetrator?"

4PM  Jon Lusk:  "Making Custom Printed Labels for 2X2 Envelopes"

IMPORTANT CONTACTS

   Friday Dinner:

    Mail check for $50 to Nathan Markowitz

                                                            PO Box 146

                                                            Springfield, OR  97477

                         All payments will be confirmed, by email if possible or by snail mail

                         Wine tour and Waterfall Tours:  Rob Novach: rnovach (at) samhealth.org

                          Table Purchases(if you want to set up):  bimgander(at) gmail.com

We have received numerous compliments on our silver displayed from our copper brethren...come drink some microbrews, wine, tour the gardens....and see some coins.

------

Comments from the editor:

Steve Crain showed me his copy of "The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint" about a week ago.  I ordered my copy right away and have been reading it daily since...wonderful book.  Highly recommended!

JR Newsletter: 19 March 2011 (28)

This week's JR Newsletter comes to you one day earlier than usual, since the editor will be unavailable all day on Sunday.

We have just one contribution this week, but this is an announcement that many of us have been looking forward to for a long time!

From Brad Karoleff:

The book "Early Quarter Dollars of the United States Mint 1796-1838" is at the printer and should be available for sale and subsequent shipment within two weeks!  The authors are Rory R. Rea, Dr. Glenn Peterson, Bradley S. Karoleff, and John J. Kovach Jr.

For information on ordering, pricing, and the availability of a deluxe version, please visit the following web site:  http://browningquarterbook.com/Browning_Quarter_Book/Home.html

Below is an image of the cover of the new book:

JR Newsletter: 13 March 2011 (27)

Ralph Muñoz wrote:

Where can one find information on the newer Reeded Edge Bust Half varieties since Jules Reiver's 1988 VIM?

Ralph

------

Michael Sullivan wrote:

In the recent issue of the JR Newsletter, Brad Karoleff mentioned his first published book from 1996 titled Bust Half Dollar Bibliomania. Many of our JRN readers will have copies of the regular edition in their reference libraries.  How many collectors have a deluxe copy bound by Alan Grace in half-leather in the collections?   I was fortunate to obtain a copy in the late 90s in "as new" condition.  It now resides in my growing library next to other valuable references on bust coinage like the Bowers work on Silver Dollars.

For you literature aficionados, good luck finding a deluxe copy.   I assume less than a dozen were produced, but only B. Karoleff would be able to confirm my assumption.

 

Michael Sullivan

------

Jeff Reichenberger wrote:

I realized in my JR Journal article (volume 21/Issue 1:  "In Search of A.F. Dyer" starting on page 37) that I asked for any feedback from JRCS members, however, I forgot to give my email address:  jeffreichenberger (at) gmail.com  -THANKS

------

Nathan Markowitz wrote:

FINAL CALL BOURSE TABLES EAC/JRCS show:  Please note that the deadline for inclusion of your table in the annual program is March 26 so it can get to the printers.  Please contact bourse chairman Bim Gander at bimgander (at) gmail.com if you wish to have a table at this year's convention.

The educational program is nearly set.  The following speakers are gratefully acknowledged for their willingness to share their expertise with early silver(and copper) collectors:

Steve Tompkins:  "Counterfeit Bust Coinage, Contemporary and Modern"

Rob Matuska:  "An Investigation of the Causes of Planchet Errors"

Jim Matthews:  "All Cracked Up and With Pieces Falling Out"

Bob Fagaly:  "Pricing Relationships in United States Coinage"...both silver and copper topic.

These talks Friday and Saturday will join six other copper and colonial topics....

In addition we will have numerous displays (you can still add yours). More later...

Finally, I am willing to guide a small group of intrepid travelers down the McKenzie River on a paddle raft.  This would either be before the show on Tuesday May 10, possibly Wednesday May 11, or afterward on Monday, May 16...depending on interest and my show duties as co-chair. 

I would need at least 6 willing paddlers as you are the power source. The McKenzie is a national wild and scenic river and is beautiful class II-III whitewater rain or shine...it is about 2.5 HR drive from the convention center and a full day trip.  If interested, please send me an email at cascades1787 (at) yahoo.com

------

Mike Sherrill wrote:

A response to Winston Zack in last week’s newsletter

 

Thank you for posting photos of this interesting draped dime.

The attribution of 1802 JR2 is most likely; also possible is an unknown 1802 obverse die from which only a few examples were struck. The remnant of the final digit looks most like a 2, and other diagnostics don’t match the 1803 obverses. On coins of this grade I guess it is easier to say what it is not, instead of what it is.

Previously I have not seen any die cracks/cuds on 1802 JR2 in the area of interest on your new coin. From the images it does appear the obverse die has broken and a piece has sunken and tilted with the interior at a slightly lower level than the rim. The relative lack of wear above the date and especially at star 13 indicates the area is raised and absorbed most of the wear. This tilting and the ‘crispness’ around the break leads me towards a retained vs. a full cud. I expect even a retained cud with this much sinking would cause a corresponding area of weakness on the reverse where on a coin of this grade the design will be completely gone. I am unsure of the die rotation from the obverse to reverse in the image, so I would study this corresponding area of the reverse in detail.

I was not able to think of any other defect or damage to the planchet or die other than a cud that would account for these characteristics. 

I had a short correspondence with Ed Price regarding this coin, and he commented it does appear to be a cud, and if so will change the emission order for 1802 obverse 1, with 1802 JR3 now struck before JR2. The original emission order for 1802 obverse 1 was somewhat tenuous anyway due to the absence of any significant die deterioration, and it may have been determined using only the inconclusive evidence of obverse clash marks.

It is interesting to note that perhaps both known 1802 obverse dies failed with massive die breaks. The 1802 obverse 2 die at the end of its life has a large retained cud through LIB. Although there have been references to this die break being a full cud, I have never seen one.

Mike

------

A final note from the editor:

As a reminder, back issues of the John Reich Journal are available for $9 each (postpaid) from the JRCS.  Many, but not all, back issues are available.  To inquire, send an email message to jrnewsletter (at) jrcs.org

Supplemental Announcement: March 7, 2011

Brad Karoleff announced that the latest issue of the "John Reich Journal" has been mailed.  Any member of the JRCS who has not received his or her copy of the journal within ten days of this announcement should contact Brad via email at bkaroleff (at) yahoo.com

JR Newsletter: 6 March 2011 (26)

Editor's note:  You can click on the images in this week's JR Newsletter if you wish to view the images in a larger size

Brad Karoleff wrote:

In last week's newsletter Gary Rosner wrote:

The 1825 Half Dollars have two different obverse master dies for the
year. In Bust Half Fever they are numbered obverse master dies #4 and
#5. Can anyone tell me which obverses are from the newer master die #5?
In Overton, Peterson, and Souders they all mention that some of the
obverses are form the new master die but none of them specify which
obverses. There are 15 obverses for 1825 and one book mentions that 4 of
the obverses use the new master die #5. I’ve tried to figure it out from
the pictures in Overton but have had a hard time distinguishing between
the two master dies. In my collection I only have an O-101, 105, and 110
in the VF-XF grade range. Anyone's help would be appreciated.
Thanks,

My notes show that there were 6 die marriages struck from the new master die (#5) in 1825.  They were; Overton numbers 101, 106, 110, 113, 114 and 117.  So Gary, you have examples from both Master dies for the year!

In my monograph, Bust Half Dollar Bibliomania, I listed all the marriages from each master die.  They are:

Master die 1, all the 1807 and 1808 die marriages.

Master die 2, used to produce hub #2, used to produce all the die marriages from 1809 through 1812 Overton numbers 101 and 102.

Master die 2, used to produce hub #3, used to produce the die marriages from 1812 O103 through part of 1817, Overton numbers 101-106, 107-109, 111,112,115,116, and 118.

Master die 3, used to produce hub #4, used to produce the remaining die marriages of 1817 into 1825, marriages O102-5, 107-9, 111,112,115,116,118.

Master die 3, used to produce hub #5, used to produce the remaining die marriages of 1825 through early 1830 Overton numbers 106,107,113,114.

Master die #3, used to produce hub #6, used to produce the remaining die marriages of 1830 through part of 1832 Overton numbers, 107,111,115,122.

Master die #4, used to produce hub #7, used to produce the remaining die marriages of 1832 through 1834 O101-110.

Master die #5, used to produce hub #8 used to produce only the abominable bastards O113, 114, 116. 

Due to Kneass's stroke old dies were pressed into service in 1835 to produce the die marriages of 1834 O121, 120, 119, 109, and 110 (which was actually struck in 1836!).

Master die #6 the small bust used to produce hub #9 which was used to strike 1834 Overton numbers 111,112,115,117,118 and all the 1835 and 1836 die marriages.

I hope this helps answer some of the questions.  This is the last information I have and think that it is still correct.  Does anyone have another opinion?

Brad

------

Alan Bricker wrote:

"Jules Reiver introduced me to RE Bust Half Dollar die marriages around 1987 during one of our kitchen table chats and I was soon hooked. By about 1995 I had identified and described for Jules at least a half dozen additional RE half dollar die marriages not listed in his 1988 VIM, including the 1838 "JR-21" which I subsequently shot down as merely a die state of his JR-13. In addition, I shared my opinion that his 1837 "JR-28" did not actually represent a new die marriage. The point here is that these studies were works in progress and therefore always subject to revisions, not unlike the sort of numismatic hairsplitting inherent with the late date large cents."

Alan Bricker

------

Winston Zack wrote:

I was hoping to get opinions from the JR Newsletter crew as to what may be going on with my 1802 JR-2 Draped Bust Dime from 4-6 o'clock on the obverse.  I know the coin is well worn, but the diagnostics are present to attribute the date/die marriage, even with the last digit obscured.

 

I am not primarily a Draped Bust Dime collector but I do love Cuds.  When I saw this piece I bought it because the area in question looked very much like a Cud.  The area is raised on the coin, but after I went to reference my EUSD and other resources I could not find such a feature mentioned anywhere.

 

So I am calling on the collective minds from this organization to give me their best opinion based on the photos provided.

 

Thanks,

Winston

 

 

------

Nathan Markowitz wrote:

A reminder:

The 2011 EAC convention will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Portland, Oregon.  For the first time a JRCS member(yours truly) will co-host this event along with EAC VP Bim Gander.  I would like to encourage all those who can make the trek to attend.  These shows are a tremendous opportunity to focus on early American coinage w/o the distractions often associated with a larger show.  Portland is in peak bloom and I am happy to share information about Portland, the coast, or the mountains to any prospective attendee.  We have made arrangements to rent a safe T deposit box so you can store your coins you bring to the Happenings display should you chose to bring along your spouse/family and extend your visit.  Please contact me at cascades1787 (at) yahoo.com if you have any specific questions about the convention or the Pacific Northwest....

Here is the tentative program; all events except Saturday copper auction and Friday keynote speaker dinner are FREE and open to JRCS members...

Thursday May 12;  5 PM reception (eat and meet); 8PM Happenings...show the varieties Brad Karoleff mentioned (Please consider sending along a coin or two IF you can't make it)

Friday May 13:  Bourse (about 60 tables almost solely early copper/silver.  Educational seminars and keynote speech.

Saturday May 14:  Bourse.  Educational seminars.

The educational seminars are a mix of silver, early copper and colonial talks.  There are also talks on early copper/silver valuation; grading.  Please consider giving a talk at one of these shows; they are very well received by our copper brethren!  A schedule will be posted within the next couple of weeks.  PDX airport is just a short light rail train ride from the host hotel.

DISPLAYS:  Please contact me ASAP if you are willing to do a display.  I already have a few terrific silver displays to complement the copper on show....but I am running out of time to go to press for the program and we have an unusually large bourse.  You get your own case, own key, and there are not a bunch of rules like at the big shows. Lets wow the copper folks....early silver, early gold, or a literature display would be great.

Sunday May 15:  Bourse, wrap up.

As you can see from the schedule Thursday evening until Saturday afternoon will contain the majority of coins and talks of interest to our fellow members.

And remember, NO SALES TAX in Oregon...folks come here just to shop...

JR Newsletter: 27 February 2011 (25)

Steve Crain announces the half dime census:

The next issue of the "John Reich Journal" will contain a notice of the next Bust half dime census, advising all JRCS member half dime collectors to submit their census of all Bust half dimes in their collections. The census will include any and all examples of the 1792 Half Disme, Flowing Hair, Draped Bust, and Capped Bust half dimes. The census will be compiled and published in the Spring issue of the John Reich Journal. Please submit your census of all half dimes in your collection, by date, die marriage, remarriage, and by grade, including duplicates, to:

Stephen A. Crain 

John Reich Collectors Society
P. O. Box 1680
Windham, ME 04062

Please include your JRCS membership number with your census. All collections will be anonymously reported using only your membership number, and all information reported will be kept strictly confidential.

Please also include any of the remarriage numbers in your collection, as listed in "Federal Half Dimes 1792 - 1837", by Russell J. Logan and John W. McCloskey. I can only report the information that is provided to me, but most collectors would like to see a breakdown by remarriage, rather than just by marriage. If you have not attributed the remarriages, and only have them by marriage, please report them anyway, and they will be included. Even if your collection is still attributed by Valentine numbers, please report them and I will translate them. We would like to see significantly greater participation in this census survey than we had in the last; the greater the participation, the more meaningful the results.

You may also submit your census via email, to the following email address:  

mrhalfdime (at) aol.com

Please help us to make this half dime census survey the most comprehensive survey ever compiled.

Stephen A. Crain
Half Dime Census Keeper - JRCS 

------

Ralph Muñoz wrote:

Re: Frank Goss comments and Jim Matthews's update for the Reeded Bust Halves.  Is there currently a source of information or publication for the  "Additional Reeded Edge Half Dollars" varieties identified, since Jules Reiver's 1988 publication?????

 

P.S.   I agree the Jules was an incredible variety specialists and knowledgeable numismatist of early US type coins.

 

------

Jeff Reichenberger wrote:

I just read the online version of The Numismatist, March issue. The feature story is about John Reich, by Eric Brothers. Written for the general ANA membership and not necessarily geared to JRCS members, the article has a somewhat rudimentary tone and I'm not sure all the facts are straight (I have to look up a few things, for instance, I don't recall the monogrammed clasp theory being universally accepted among experts ), but kudos to him for bringing to light the 'overworked and under-appreciated' aspect of John Reich to the rest of the numismatic community.

-Jeff

------

Gary Rosner wrote:

The 1825 Half Dollars have two different obverse master dies for the year. In Bust Half Fever they are numbered obverse master dies #4 and #5. Can anyone tell me which obverses are from the newer master die #5? In Overton, Peterson, and Souders they all mention that some of the obverses are form the new master die but none of them specify which obverses. There are 15 obverses for 1825 and one book mentions that 4 of the obverses use the new master die #5. I’ve tried to figure it out from the pictures in Overton but have had a hard time distinguishing between the two master dies. In my collection I only have an O-101, 105, and 110 in the VF-XF grade range. Anyone's help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

 

Gary Rosner