| Slot: |
V-1, Small Stars, Stage 1 Very Early Die State |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 LARGE STARS |
| Grade: |
PCGS MS 62 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
PCGS graded MS 62, CAC approved
Variety: V-1 vEDS (pre) Small Stars
Luster: TBD
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
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| Slot: |
V-1, Small Stars, Flynn Obv 1 Rev 1 Stage 1 Early |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 LARGE STARS V-1, Small Stars, Stage 1 |
| Grade: |
PCGS MS 66 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
PCGS graded MS 66, No Drapery, Large Stars
Variety: V-1; Small Stars, Stage 1
For 1838 half dimes, the Small Stars designation should really apply only to one obverse die, which was progressively lapped to remove evidence of die rust. As a result, the stars start out normal, but become progressively smaller. Some nearly disappear in the latest state of that die. While other dies were undoubtedly lapped, there are no other cases in the series in which the stars sizes are affected nearly as much. A better designation would be to emphasize the die rust on that Small Stars die, which is apparent on Liberty's left (pole-holding) arm, even in the earliest known die state. That obverse die was paired with two reverse dies, making the V-1 and V-2 varieties. Valentine noted "thin stars" only for this one obverse die. Nevertheless, the grading services commonly designate representatives of other varieties as "Small Stars", despite the stars looking normal, and commonly designate early state examples of the V-1 marriage as "Large Stars".
Even if the obverse die had been used before it rusted, resulting coins would be still be identifiable. The stars were punched into the die individually. Some required correction. The result is unique star positions and evidence of repunching that is apparent even on significantly worn coins.
This coin is an example of the V-1 die marriage, in an early state thereof. The stars appear normal in size. But the die rust is apparent on the arm and other locations in the design. Note the strong repunching of stars 3 and 4 (counting clockwise from lower left).
Luster: TBD
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
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| Slot: |
V-1, Small Stars,
Flynn Obv 1 Rev 1 Stage 1 Late |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 LARGE STARS V-1; Small Stars, Stage 1 |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 65 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
NGC graded MS 65, Large Stars
Variety: V-1; Small Stars, Stage 1
For 1838 half dimes, the Small Stars designation should really apply only to one obverse die, which was progressively lapped to remove evidence of die rust. As a result, the stars start out normal, but become progressively smaller. Some nearly disappear in the latest state of that die. While other dies were undoubtedly lapped, there are no other cases in the series in which the stars sizes are affected nearly as much. A better designation would be to emphasize the die rust on that Small Stars die, which is apparent on Liberty's left (pole-holding) arm, even in the earliest known die state. That obverse die was paired with two reverse dies, making the V-1 and V-2 varieties. Valentine noted "thin stars" only for this one obverse die. Nevertheless, the grading services commonly designate representatives of other varieties as "Small Stars", despite the stars looking normal, and commonly designate early state examples of the V-1 marriage as "Large Stars".
Even if the obverse die had been used before it rusted, resulting coins would be still be identifiable. The stars were punched into the die individually. Some required correction. The result is unique star positions and evidence of repunching that is apparent even on significantly worn coins.
This coin is essentially untoned, is well-struck throughout, and is highly lustrous. There are a couple very light hairline scratches that are visible in some lighting angles. Overall it is very pleasing.
I bought this coin as a cherry-pick from Stack's-Bowers at the Summer 2015 Baltimore show. The NGC certification correctly noted that it is a No Drapery type (as are all 1838 Philadelphia half dimes), but did not specify Large Stars or Small Stars. It is an example of the V-1 Small Stars variety, in Stage 1 of that variety. I paid a fair Large Stars price for it - substantially less than what gem Small Stars pieces fetch (including Large Stars coins that are mis-attributed as Small Stars!). But to be fair, in what is known as Stage 1 of the obverse die, the stars are normal. I submitted the coin for reholdering because the original holder was badly scuffed. NGC added the Large Stars designation at that time...
Luster: 4/4
Strike: 5/4
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
|
| Slot: |
V-1, Small Stars,
Flynn Obv 1 Rev 1 Stage 3 |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 SMALL STARS V-1 |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 63 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
NGC graded MS 63, Small Stars
Variety: V-1, Small Stars
Luster: TBD
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
|
| Slot: |
V-2, Small Stars,
Flynn Obv 1 Rev 2 Stage 5 |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 SMALL STARS V-2; Small Stars, Stage 4 (Blythe),Stage 5 (Flynn) |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 65 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
NGC graded MS 65, Small Stars
Variety: V-2; Small Stars, Stage 4 (Blythe), Stage 5 (Flynn)
Ex: Eugene H. Gardner
For 1838 half dimes, the Small Stars designation should really apply only to one obverse die, which was progressively lapped to remove evidence of die rust. As a result, the stars start out normal, but become progressively smaller. Some nearly disappear in the latest state of that die. While other dies were undoubtedly lapped, there are no other cases in the series in which the stars sizes are affected nearly as much. A better designation would be to emphasize the die rust on that Small Stars die, which is apparent on Liberty's left (pole-holding) arm, even in the earliest known die state. That obverse die was paired with two reverse dies, making the V-1 and V-2 varieties. Valentine noted "thin stars" only for this one obverse die. Nevertheless, the grading services commonly designate representatives of other varieties as "Small Stars", despite the stars looking normal, and commonly designate early state examples of the V-1 marriage as "Large Stars".
Even if the obverse die had been used before it rusted, resulting coins would be still be identifiable. The stars were punched into the die individually. Some required correction. The result is unique star positions and evidence of repunching that is apparent even on significantly worn coins.
This coin is an example of the V-2 die marriage. Most of the stars are significantly affected by lapping. Die rust is severe on the arm and other locations in the design. Lapping has eliminated the evidence of repunching of stars 3 and 4 (counting clockwise from lower left). Late in the V-1 marriage, a die crack appeared from the rim through star 13. That crack appears on all examples of V-2 that are not too heavily worn or damaged. The V-2 reverse die is most easily identified, at least on higher grade coins, by the horizontal clash mark between M and E of DIME, and extending up and right from the upper right corner of that E.
Luster: 3/4
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
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| Slot: |
V-3, Large Stars, Flynn Obv 2 Rev 3 |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 LARGE STARS V-3 |
| Grade: |
PCGS AU 55 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
PCGS graded AU55
Variety: V-3 (~EDS)
Luster: 2/2
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
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| Slot: |
V-3, Large Stars |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 LARGE STARS |
| Grade: |
PCGS AU 50 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
PCGS graded AU 50
Variety: V-3
Luster: TBD
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
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| Slot: |
V-4, Large Stars,
Flynn Obv N/A Rev 2 |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 LARGE STARS V-4 |
| Grade: |
PCGS MS 64 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
PCGS graded MS 64, No Drapery, Large Stars
Variety: V-4; Flynn Rev 2
Luster: 3/3
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
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| Slot: |
V-4, Large Stars,
Flynn Obv N/A Rev 2 |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 LARGE STARS V-4 |
| Grade: |
PCGS AU 58 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
PCGS graded AU 58+
Variety: V-4
Luster: TBD
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
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| Slot: |
V-4, Large Stars |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 SMALL STARS |
| Grade: |
PCGS XF 40 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
PCGS graded XF 40 Small Stars
Variety: V-4 LDS, Normal Stars
Because this coin is (incorrectly) certified as "Small Stars", it gets more registry points than it should. For 1838 half dimes, the Small Stars designation should really apply only to one obverse die, which was progressively lapped to remove evidence of die rust. As a result, the stars start out normal, but become progressively smaller. Some nearly disappear in the latest state of that die. While other dies were undoubtedly lapped, there are no other cases in the series in which the stars sizes are affected nearly as much. A better designation would be to emphasize the die rust on that "Small Stars" die, which is apparent on Liberty's left (pole-holding) arm, even in the earliest known die state.
Luster: 0/0
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
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| Slot: |
V-5, Large Stars |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 LARGE STARS |
| Grade: |
PCGS MS 63 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
PCGS graded MS 63, No Drapery, Large Stars
Variety: V-5
Luster: TBD
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
|
| Slot: |
V-5, Large Stars |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 LARGE STARS |
| Grade: |
NGC AU 53 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
NGC graded AU 53
Variety: V-5
Ex: Stephen Crain Collection
Luster: 0/0
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
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| Slot: |
V-6, Large Stars, Flynn Obv 3 Rev 4 |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 LARGE STARS V-6 |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 65 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
NGC graded MS 65, Large Stars
Variety: V-6, Flynn DDO-003 Obv 3 Rev 4
Luster: 4/4
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
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| Slot: |
V-7, Large Stars, Flynn Obv 3 Rev 5 |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 LARGE STARS V-7 |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 62 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
NGC graded MS 62, Large Stars, CAC approved
Variety: V-7
Luster: TBD
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
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| Slot: |
V-8, Large Stars, Flynn Obv 3 Rev 6 |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HALF DIMES - SEATED LIBERTY |
| Item Description: |
H10C 1838 LARGE STARS V-8; Flynn DDO-003 |
| Grade: |
NGC AU 58 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
NGC graded AU 58
Variety: V-8; Flynn DDO-003
Luster: 3/3
Photo credit: Electric Peak Collection
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