56
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Half Dimes
1840 H
ALF
D
IME
. N
O
D
RAPERY
Enlargement
299
1840. No Drapery
.
PCGS graded MS-67 PQ.
CAC
Approved
. Boldly struck with lovely iridescent amber ton-
ing on both sides that includes a few colorful shades at dif-
ferent 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 Lib-
erty’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 accord-
ing 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
F
ROSTY
G
EM
1841-O H
ALF
D
IME
Enlargement
300
1841-O
.
PCGS graded MS-65.
CAC Approved
. Boldly
struck and fully lustrous. An untoned gem.
Pop 1; 1 finer
in 67+.
(
PCGS # 4329
)
Estimated Value ........................................ $7,500 - 8,000
B
EAUTIFULLY
T
ONED
1842-O H
ALF
D
IME
Enlargement
301
1842-O
.
PCGS graded MS-65
. Delicate golden toning
highlights the surfaces on both sides.
Pop 4; 1 finer in
66.
(
PCGS # 4331
)
Estimated Value .................................... $10,000 - 11,000
G
EM
1844 L
IBERTY
S
EATED
H
ALF
D
IME
Enlargement
302
1844
.
PCGS graded MS-67 PQ.
CAC Approved
. Lovely
blue and gold toning on both sides. Well struck. A worldly
measure of pouring frosted luster livens up the fields and
expanse of design on this handsome 1844 Seated Liberty
Half Dime. The fields are for all intents and purposes
immaculate, heavily and beautifully toned, while the strike
is intrepid enough to call for special mention in an era when
US coinage tended toward uneven strikes, usually on the
branch mints, not so often on Philadelphia’s production.
Pop 11; none finer at PCGS
. (
PCGS # 4333
)
On February 20, 1844 President Tyler and other dignitaries
were on board the steam frigate Princeton on the Potomac
River to see the action of a powerful new gun, the Peace-
maker, which could fire a 212-pound load the remarkable
distance of three miles. Without warning, the gun exploded
on deck, and eight people were killed, including the Secre-
tary of State. James Knox Polk, a relatively unknown figure,
was nominated for the presidency by the Democrats who
were deadlocked in convention. Polk became the first "dark
horse" candidate to run in a national election, which he did
successfully, besting Henry Clay by 170 electoral votes to
105.
Samuel F.B. Morse harvested the fruits of his congressional
backing and transmitted the first telegraph message, "What
Hath God Wrought?" from the Capitol building to Baltimore.
Wells, Fargo & Company had its beginnings in an express
route between Detroit and Buffalo. At the time there were
dozens of express companies that carried goods from one
location to another, employing ship, rail, and horse trans-
portation. Charles Goodyear obtained the basic patent for
the vulcanization of rubber, which led to the expanded use
of the product in overshoes, rainwear, and other articles.
Estimated Value ........................................ $5,000 - 5,500
