Lot 299
1840. No Drapery. PCGS graded MS-67 PQ. CAC Approved. Boldly struck with lovely iridescent amber toning on both sides that includes a few colorful shades at different angles. A wonderful coin, indeed a spectacular No Drapery Half Dime. About as close to flawless as will ever be seen on this Type, a robust Stars Obverse Half Dime that stands on the shoulders of any wannabe competitor. The strike is knife-edge sharp on the devices (including all stars), with clear definition to the high points such as Liberty’s hair and the small shield she is balancing on its pointed tip by her side.
From January 1838 through November 1840, half-dime working dies came from the old starless hub of 1837, but with 13 stars hand punched into each die (about 18 obverses in all for Philadelphia, 10 for New Orleans according to the Breen encyclopedia). Stars therefore vary notably in spacing, never completely even; they also vary slightly in size depending on how heavily they were input into each die, or how much the working dies were later repolished. Double punching on stars is the rule, not the exception.
Pop 5; 1 finer in 68 (PCGS # 4321) .
Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000.
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| Realized $14,100 |
