1813 Half Dollar question 1 1

[Coinzrfun]

I have often wondered about this coin. I am not sure why or how this happened. Does anyone here know what this is?

You can see what I am talking about just under the bust. If the picture is not clear enough please let me know and I will try to take a better picture.

[Coinzrfun]

There is and E and a P in front of the chest and part of the reverse shows behind her head. I cannot quite make it out but I imagine it is from the reverse. I'll have to get out my microscope. I haven't looked at these coins in a while.

[Sandon]

   Your 1813 Capped Bust half dollar was struck from strongly clashed dies, which are created when the dies are pressed together without a planchet (coin blank) between them.  The pressure created an impression of part of the scroll bearing the words "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and other obverse details in the field of the obverse die, which in turn pressed a backwards impression of these details into subsequently struck coins. Such "clash marks" are a common occurrence on both older coins like this one and modern coins as well.

   I'm not sure what you're referring to in front of Liberty's chest but do notice some light scratches or "graffiti", which are post-mint damage.

[Coinzrfun]

I'm sure you cannot see it well but they are actually two letters. Not graffiti. We have no coins like that in our collection. I will get out my scope when I feel like it and post some pictures so you can see them. I can see them very well with a 10X loupe. There is also a clash mark at the back of her head. I am trying to find similar. Does anyone know of more clashed half dollars like this that I can research?

Edited May 8, 2023 by Coinzrfun

[Coinzrfun]

Here are some better images. I believe you will be able tonsee what I am talking about. I am trying to find the 1817 with a four in it also.

 

[Coinzrfun]

On 5/8/2023 at 7:30 PM, Sandon said:

   Your 1813 Capped Bust half dollar was struck from strongly clashed dies, which are created when the dies are pressed together without a planchet (coin blank) between them.  The pressure created an impression of part of the scroll bearing the words "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and other obverse details in the field of the obverse die, which in turn pressed a backwards impression of these details into subsequently struck coins. Such "clash marks" are a common occurrence on both older coins like this one and modern coins as well.

   I'm not sure what you're referring to in front of Liberty's chest but do notice some light scratches or "graffiti", which are post-mint damage.

Can you also please tell me what post-mint damage is?

Would this be damage that did not occur during the minting process but rather after it went into circulation or left the mint?

[Sandon]

   I can now see the "E" to which you are referring. It is part of the same clash mark from "E PLURIBUS UNUM", the rest of which appears beneath the bust.  There are no clash marks on the bust itself because the image of the bust was impressed into the die and thereby protected from the clash.

    Post-mint damage is any form of damage, such as but not limited to scratches, nicks, and dents, that occurs to a coin after it is struck. Bag marks and abrasions that occur from coin-to-coin contact are regarded as normal unless severe and lower the coin's mint state grade but are regarded differently from intentional or accidental damage that occurs after the coin goes into circulation.  

   Specialists collect these early half dollars both by die varieties as listed in the Overton reference with "O" numbers and by die states of those varieties. The later states are designated by letters beginning with "a" added to the Overton number and often feature clash marks.  NGC VarietyPlus, which you can find under the "Resources" tab on the NGC home page shows photos of the various Overton varieties for each date and some of the die states. You may find more detailed attribution and rarity information at http://maibockaddict.com/.  There are ten die varieties for 1813 (O-101 through O-110) and several collected die states.  Only the 1813 with "50 C. over UNI" is separately listed in the standard "Redbook". You can attempt to determine the die variety and die state of your coin.

   The 1817 with 7 over 4 (1817 variety O-102) is an extreme rarity with only eight or so pieces known. It is quite unlikely that you would find one.  However, I recall that only four were known when I started collecting some 52 years ago, so one never knows.

[RWB]

Clashing of dies is common among early halves, but 1813 is notorious for strong clash impressions.