Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 57

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Half Dimes

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 935		1794 Flowing Hair Half Dime. . LM-1, V-1. PCGS graded MS-62 PQ. CAC Approved. This variety is quickly recognized by the obverse, with the third curl joined to the upper inside point of star 2. The obverse die is cracked while the reverse has a short crack from a dentil into the field between A and M. An nicely toned specimen, with attractive satiny surfaces on both sides (some 1794 half dimes include hints of Prooflike luster in areas). Exceptional strike, better than average even on the eagle's breast, where many of the feathers are outlined if not clearly defined (a trait that is rarely seen on this date or type as the eagle's breast is often flat). Full hair details, with every strand completely struck up although the lowest two merge together in one spot. Nicely centered on a full-sized planchet, showing at least half of denticles on both sides (partially hidden by the grading holder). Were it not for some fine marks on both sides and a small scratch below TY of LIBERTY, we'd expect the grading service to add a point to the grade. Worthy of inclusion in the choicest cabinet. Pop 8; 34 finer (PCGS # 4250) . The Flowing Hair half dimes of 1794-95 were designed by Robert Scot, a talented engraver of the First Philadelphia Mint. His design was different than that found on Birch's 1792 half dismes (the spelling of "disme" would gradually evolve to "dime." On the 1792 coins, the denomination is spelled HALF DISME). Scot's design features a head of Liberty facing to the right with distinctive flowing hair. Fifteen stars, arranged 8x7, surround the head with the date below and the word LIBERTY above. On the reverse, an eagle stands amid an olive branch with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around it. There is no indication of this coin's value on either side, nor would there be until the Capped Bust design was adopted in 1829. Estimated Value $20,000 - 22,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $20,700
Lot 936		1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime. . LM-7, V-8. NGC graded AU Details. Altered surface, enviormental damage. Mostly untoned with plenty of detail present. LM-7 is from the same reverse die as LM-6, without berries beneath the left wing. The obverse now has seven curls with star 15 closer to star 14. The obverse has a bisecting die crack from the rim to the left side of T, the forehead, ear, hair curls, and back to the rim below star 1. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,265
Lot 937		1797 Draped Bust Half Dime. . LM-1, V-2 15 stars. Bent. Clear date; partial Liberty and stars visible. This is the only variety with 15 obverse stars. Estimated Value $500 - 550. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $575
Lot 938		1800 Draped Bust Half Dime. . LM-1, V-1. PCGS graded AU-55. Even grey toning. A small mark on the neck. Only 24,000 pieces struck. This is the first year of issue for the new Heraldic Eagle reverse design and one that is much nicer than most, including an even strike on the devices. Perfect LIBERTY with the upper inside point of star 1 close to the small middle curl. Seldom seen with perfect dies. All four digits in the date are equally spaced on this variety, and the first star is low in the field. Pop 24; 47 (PCGS # 4264) . Estimated Value $7,000 - 7,500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 939		1829 Capped Bust Half Dime. . LM-1, V-7, R-2 as a business strike. NGC graded Proof 64. Well struck with lovely golden and light violet iridescent toning on both sides. Extremely rare as a Proof, only a few were minted, and most were not well cared for. The recent PCGS Population Report shows how few have been graded this high or higher. This coin has medium colors on both sides and is very sharply struck with the possible exception of the shield stripes. The stars, curls on Liberty, lettering, devices and scrolls are otherwise crisp and fully brought up by the dies. The fields have some very minor rough areas (as minted, one being in the field above the curve of the eagle's wing), but this coin is nearly a gem. Many would in fact call it that. It may be that these were struck to observe the restoration of the half dime denomination, of which none had been struck since 1805. Once the Mint started making half dimes, they kept producing them out in fairly steady numbers, so the denomination must have proven useful to the public. Here is one of the very finer to survive in Proof condition. Pop 7; 1 in PF-65 and 1 in PF-67. Die diagnostics: The upper right tip of the 5 in the denomination is aligned below the left border of the fletchings. Both obverse and reverse dies were used only for this single die marriage, listed as the first variety of the Capped Bust design in the Logan-McCloskey reference. Just three 1829 varieties have "three pale gules" reverse dies, the other two varieties die-linked to later "two pale gules" varieties. This variety is considered the first Capped Bust half dime minted as it is not die-linked to other varieties. In heraldry, a gule is the vertical stripe in the shield, and a pale is an individual line being a single element of the gule. The term "three pale gule" simply states that each vertical shield stripe consists of three individual lines. Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 940		Withdrawn Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 941		1830 Capped Bust Half Dime. NGC graded MS-66 Prooflike. Well struck with needle sharp details throughout. The surfaces are prooflike highlighted by delicate blue, gold and rose color borders. A total of 14 die marriages are known for the half dime coinage dated 1830. This coinage was accomplished through the use of six obverse and eight reverse dies. Total mintage for the year was 1,240,000 coins, however, many of these were coins dated 1829, while other examples dated 1830 were actually struck in 1831 Pop 1; the finest PL graded at NGC. Estimated Value $2,600 - 2,700. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,335
Lot 942		1832 Capped Bust Half Dime. Questionable color. Our grade is MS63 Well struck on the main devices. This piece was issued the year President Andrew Jackson got reelected (PCGS # 4279) . Estimated Value $450 - 500. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $575
Lot 943		A Trio of NGC graded Half Dimes. Consists of: 1832 EF Details Improperly cleaned and stained, 1836 EF Details Improperly cleaned and stained, and 1863 VG Details damaged and bent. Estimated Value $100 - 115. View details	Realized $311
Lot 944		1842-O Liberty Seated Half Dime. PCGS graded MS-65. Only 350,000 pieces made. The silvery luster on both sides is full with a somewhat satin texture with lovely original golden toning. The only weak spot in the strike is seen at the head and adjoining star, pretty typical for the New Orleans Mint at this time. Philadelphia tended to do better than the branch mints. What surprises and amazes first time collectors to this series is how truly rare most of the O mint half dimes are in Mint condition. Better quality pieces like this handsome Gem Mint State 65 are multiples of that in terms of rarity! One for the connoisseur. Pop 4; 1 finer in 66 (PCGS # 4331) . Estimated Value $12,000 - 13,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $11,500
Lot 945		1861 Liberty Seated Half Dime. PCGS graded MS-65. Attractive antique golden toning. In an old green label holder. The surfaces are lustrous, oscillating with silvery color under the toning, and quite presentable. Next a word about the strike. The pressure transmitted from the die to the blank reveals itself in sharp devices on either side. A bold gem (PCGS # 4379) . Estimated Value $550 - 600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $604
Lot 946		1872-S Liberty Seated Half Dime. Mint mark below bow. PCGS graded MS-64. Mostly white with some discoloration in the right obverse field. A satiny example (PCGS # 4401) . Estimated Value $275 - 300. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $345