Vic's Picks
50c CAPPED BUST, LETTERED EDGE 1807-36


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Coin Details

  

Set Details
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Item Description:
Grade: NGC AU 55
Owner: EZ_E
 
Winning Set: Vic's Picks
Date Added: 4/19/2008
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

A $300 purchase from Mark Hooten on 4-13-08.<br /><br />****************************<br />1836 HALF DOLLAR -<br />LETTERED EDGE O-102<br />****************************<br /><br />Mintage:<br />Circulation strikes: 6,545,000<br />Proofs: est. 15<br /><br />Designer: John Reich<br /><br />Diameter: ±32-33 millimeters<br /><br />Metal content:<br />Silver - 89.2%<br />Copper - 10.8%<br /><br />Weight: 208 grains (13.48 grams)<br /><br />Edge: Lettered ("FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR")<br /><br />Mintmark: None (for Philadelphia)<br />----------------------------------------------------<br />Hoot's original comments:<br /><br />Remarkablechanges in John Reich’s bust of Liberty began to appear late in thehalf dollar series, particularly from 1832-36. A more youthfulappearance to Liberty, with a slimmer neck and loftier jaw line, markthe work of an attentive Engraver whose idea of Liberty was to rescueher from the matronly appearance that Reich had imbued on silvercoinage, beginning with the half dollar of 1807. Who the Engraver (orEngravers) may have been to implement such changes is open strictly tospeculation, but it seems likely that William Kneass was the “culprit.”Given Kneass’s involvement with design modification on otherdenominations, as well as Director Samuel Moore’s directive to improvethe effigy of Liberty depicted on coinage of the period, it is onlynatural to conjecture that Kneass began modifications to Reich’sLiberty, presenting the more youthful Liberty as early as 1832 on halfdollar coinage. (It seems apt to regard the more youthful depictions ofLiberty as Kneass’s “modified matron head” in the same manner as oneregards copper coinage of 1835-36.) By 1834, a noticeably youthful“modified matron head” (as I shall call it) was to be found on nearlyevery obverse die of the series (consult Al Overton’s “Early HalfDollar Die Varieties, 1794-1836” for details). Thus, the transitionalvariety for the terminus of that series is truly the “lettered edgebust half” of 1836. This would be the last year of the lettered edgevariety, which would give way to Gobrecht’s modified capped bust ofLiberty with reeded edge. The edge lettering of the 1807-36 capped bustcoinage reads, “50 CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR” separated by vertical reeds.These devices were imparted by a “Castaing” machine, which consisted oftwo parallel metal strips, one with the lettering and reeding in relief(the “third die”), through which the blank was rolled by force with oneof the strips moving. This device, of course, pre-dated the closecollar, which would be introduced to half dollar coinage in 1837.<br /><br />Thepresent piece is a wonderfully toned and completely original letterededge bust half of Kneass’s “modified matron head” transitional variety.I laid my eyes on this in my early renaissance of coin collecting andinstantly purchased the coin (raw) without knowing a thing about theseries! This turned out to be quite the right reaction, and I held thecoin for some time before submitting it to NGC for grading andattribution. The Overton 102 variety for 1836 is quite common(considered an R-3 by Overton, with 201-500 known – likely more common,perhaps an R-2 now, with 500-1000 known). However, finding one of thesewith evidently natural album toning that has not been dipped andstripped of its lovely natural skin is quite rare. This piece ranksamong the prettiest coins that I have, with the photos doing itveritably no justice at all. The colors are thick and showy, with aneven underlayment of remaining luster. The high points of wear, inhand, are far less dramatic than the photo suggests. Overall, a prizefor a 170 year old half!

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