Drop the Overton's and back away slowly...

[RGT]

Now, pick up your Browning and check this one out for me.

 

I posted these pictures on RCC a while back and had a couple of people disagree over the atribution. I think they finally reached a consensus, but I got lost in the process. Now I'll let you guys tell me what it is. I don't have the book on these either so I'll have to let you decide.

 

The pictures were taken before I got the new camera but they came out pretty good anyway. I also show some close-ups of the parts that seemed to be keys the last time. These were taken with a Digital Blue microscope.

 

 

 

 

The coin is in an NGC holder now, so feel free to guess the grade. That should be easier than the attribution.

[TomB]

That's a darn nice looking coin, but I'll have to get back to you as to the attribution since my Browning is buried underneath a pile and my back won't let me uncover it. Perhaps tomorrow.

[Mozin]

Looks to be B-3 R1. This is the only reverse where the 5 does not touch any device. The feet are broken on the 1, I, and T.

[coinman1794]

Off the top of my head, I would have to say its an obvious B-3. This reverse die began to show a large, open, oval shaped defect on the left side of the shield stripes. This coin clearly shows that defect. I don't think browning mentions the defect at all, by the way, which is very strange, but most examples of this variety show it.

[RGT]

I guess there isn't as much interest in bust coins here as I thought. As I said, this was discussed in RCC a while back. The first person called it a B-3 but after some discussion they agreed on a different variety. I don't have the book so I can't give an opinion.

[Hoot]

I guess there isn't as much interest in bust coins here as I thought.

 

Couldn't be more wrong! All the interest in the world, and little of the current knowledge. I thought this was a very interesting post. I resisted saying my usual stupid thing, like "Great coin but I don't know a damn thing about it." But for what it's worth, that's what I was thinking.

 

Slowly, I grow my knowledge and my library, and as I turn my attention here and there, I learn. There have been very few posts on bust quarters around here. Truly, there are few experts waiting in the wings. I love it when someone makes a post like yours, RGT, and I think that others are like me in that they wait for the experts to chime in.

 

Well I do know from my handy Red Book that the Mint only made 220,600 or so of the 1806 and 1807 combined. And it's interesting that there are no independent mintage figures from each year. However, the Red Book shows a mintage of 206,000 1806, 6/5 pieces. What's up with that? I also know that your coin's worth roughly $200, but that's one hell of a stab in the dark.

 

I hope you'll keep posting on early quarters. I think they must be awfully rare from 1836 back, as you see few of them, especially well preserved. Meanwhile, I'll keep looking at the posts.

 

Hoot

[Hoot]

BTW, I really liked the title to this thread!

 

Hoot

[RGT]

I guess there isn't as much interest in bust coins here as I thought.

 

Couldn't be more wrong!

 

Great, a disagrrement. Exactly what we need to stimulate more participation on this forum.

 

I guess the main Bust interest is in the Halves. They seem to be like Morgan dollars in that they are everywhere and have a strong following (because they are everywhere and are easy to find). Unlike Morgans, they are hard to find in nice unmolested condition.

 

I'm like you Hoot, I don't know much about these and I was hoping the experts would chime in. I don't even know who the experts are on these.

 

I'd love to keep posting more, but this is the only one I have. I bought it for a type set a few years back. I still have plans to get the other types that I can afford but I haven't been actively searching. I also only have one Bust Half, one Bust Dime and one Bust Half Dime. At least they are all in better shape than this one.

 

As for the value, I guess you are close. I don't send in enough coins to bother joining so I let a dealer send them for me. When I gave him this one to send in he offered me $150 on the spot.