For the fun of it...

The world of Early American Copper collecting is blessed with really good books that detail all the known die varieties and provide information on die states as well. While my collecting was focused on the middle and late date large cents, I used those books to attribute my new purchases and the coins from my childhood collection. But at no time did I ever desire to build a die variety collection. I certainly appreciated the effort and money it would take to do so. Viewing the fabulous Naftzger collection and the nearly complete (all but one unique variety) Holmes collection (and chatting with Dan during the lot viewing) were highlights of my numismatic experience.

If you have read my posts over the last few years, you know I am now concentrating on half dimes, especially the Liberty Seated business strikes. Even though my focus has been on the date and mint set, plus major varieties, I would like to know, as with the large cents, what die variety each coin represents. Unfortunately, there is no good Liberty Seated Half Dime die variety book. The Valentine book is dated, and its descriptions leave a lot to be desired. In many cases, one simply cannot match a coin uniquely to a description. The Blythe book gives some useful updates and additional detail, but does not discuss many varieties. There are a couple collectors out there who have the information to produce a book comparable to those for early copper, but apparently that is not a high priority for them.

Recently, Kevin Flynn published a new book on Liberty Seated Half Dime varieties, in his Authoritative Reference series. But it is not intended to describe all the die varieties. Nevertheless, I purchased it and quickly went about comparing my coins with the varieties he described. I was excited, and a bit dismayed, to find in my collection three varieties that are not included in the book. I will be forwarding photos to him.

With my collection about two thirds complete, most of the remaining coins are relatively scarce and expensive, with availability of nice examples somewhat infrequent. That being the case, while I wait for those coins to appear, I have decided to collect AU to low MS examples of varieties listed in Flynn's book, plus any others I may find. I picked up one in a recent auction. It is an 1858 over 1858 (repunched date) variety, graded AU50 and pictured below. And I will keep waiting for that Liberty Seated Half Dime complete die variety book...

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