1814 Bust Half Dollar

[CoinZip]

In 1814 there were an estimated 1,039,075 Bust Half Dollars Minted

8 Obverse Dies & 9 Reverse Dies were used to produced 9 different Die Marriages.

 

Images by: Alan Stullenbarger

 

Diagnostic Photos:

 

 

Many criss-crossing die lines arranged irregularly around the curl above the clasp

 

Usually letters of “LIBERTY” are clashed below right wing, and in shield stripe area

[SkyMan]

Fun clash on the coin.

[MBA101]

Cool pics once again...

[James_OldeTowne]

One of my favorite die marriages, exactly for the reasons highlighted by the excellent detail images.

[okbustchaser]

Since it is one of James' favorite DM's here is one he should recognize.

 

[Just Bob]

Alan (or whomever), given the hardness of the surface of the die, can you speculate as to what kind of tool might have been used to make the die gouges on the portrait? Could a mint employee have done it with his pocketknife, or would it require something harder?

[okbustchaser]

Bob, it was done with a heavy rasp (file) in order to remove rust spots from the die. The humid Philadelphia summers were murder on dies.

[James_OldeTowne]

You'd better believe it!

 

(thumbs u