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Need some quick help with an 1809 bust half

Started by jtryka,

18 posts in this topic

jtryka

jtryka

Posted
Posted

Ok, I am at the coin club show today, and I am heading back there in an hour since I am volunteering at the show, so any quick help would be appreciated.

 

I saw an 1809 bust half there, one of my favorite dates, and it looked like it was copper. At first I thought maybe it was struck on a large cent planchet, but it had some silver coloring on it that looked like it was wearing off, so maybe it was a counterfeit, perhaps a contemporary, perhaps not. Has anyone seen anything like this before? I am intrigued, but not enough to waste $100 on a worthless coin just to satisfy my curiosity!

 

Thanks for any insights!

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jtryka

jtryka

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Well, it's too late, I passed on it. The coin was about 0.3g light, but that could have been from wear. I talked with the dealer about it and had my overton book, seemed to be an O-103, and he thought it was like that since it had been in a fire. James, if you really want it, let me know and I'll see if I can pick it up for you at the next show.

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zeewool

zeewool

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Hey buff, IS THAT YOURS?!?!?!

 

In the first place, the coin pictured is not a half dollar much less an 1809 half, (so the relevance to this thread totally escapes me).

 

In the second place the coin pictured is a 1794 pattern dollar in copper owned by the Smithsonian in D.C..

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coinman_23885

coinman_23885

Posted
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Hey buff, IS THAT YOURS?!?!?!

 

In the first place, the coin pictured is not a half dollar much less an 1809 half, (so the relevance to this thread totally escapes me).

 

In the second place the coin pictured is a 1794 pattern dollar in copper owned by the Smithsonian in D.C..

 

I think Buffalo Head posted the silver pattern to demonstrate that silver coins can develop a patina that has a coppery look.

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coinman_23885

coinman_23885

Posted
Posted
Ok, I am at the coin club show today, and I am heading back there in an hour since I am volunteering at the show, so any quick help would be appreciated.

 

I saw an 1809 bust half there, one of my favorite dates, and it looked like it was copper. At first I thought maybe it was struck on a large cent planchet, but it had some silver coloring on it that looked like it was wearing off, so maybe it was a counterfeit, perhaps a contemporary, perhaps not. Has anyone seen anything like this before? I am intrigued, but not enough to waste $100 on a worthless coin just to satisfy my curiosity!

 

Thanks for any insights!

 

It has been a while since I pulled out my bust half dollars and large cents, but the diameter of both, from my memory, was quite different. I would expect that if it was a Bust Half struck on a large cent planchet, the diameter would be much smaller, and there would be much more than a 0.3g difference in weight.

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James_OldeTowne

James_OldeTowne

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The 1808 and 1809 bust halves very often were struck on planchets that were slightly larger in diameter than average for the overall series. I don't know why this is true, but that's definitely been my experience.

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physics-fan3.14

physics-fan3.14

Posted
Posted
Hey buff, IS THAT YOURS?!?!?!

 

In the first place, the coin pictured is not a half dollar much less an 1809 half, (so the relevance to this thread totally escapes me).

 

In the second place the coin pictured is a 1794 pattern dollar in copper owned by the Smithsonian in D.C..

 

I think Buffalo Head posted the silver pattern to demonstrate that silver coins can develop a patina that has a coppery look.

 

The coin that Buff posted is copper. Not silver.

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zeewool

zeewool

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The coin that Buff posted is copper. Not silver.

 

Astute observation...... it is in fact the only copper pattern made for America's first dollar coin..... unique, and as such a priceless national treasure.

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James_OldeTowne

James_OldeTowne

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Well, it's too late, I passed on it. The coin was about 0.3g light, but that could have been from wear. I talked with the dealer about it and had my overton book, seemed to be an O-103, and he thought it was like that since it had been in a fire. James, if you really want it, let me know and I'll see if I can pick it up for you at the next show.

What they heck - if it's still out there, please get it for me, and I'll pay you $10 for the hassle :) . Sounds like fun!

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noow

noow

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The coin that Buff posted is copper. Not silver.

 

Astute observation...... it is in fact the only copper pattern made for America's first dollar coin..... unique, and as such a priceless national treasure.

True that.

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