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ANA Signature US Coin Sale 1258 2-6 Aug 2017
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Bust Half Dollars
1817 50C O-105', R.7, AU55 PCGS. Overton-105 is a scarce variety in any die state, but it is rare in its earliest die state such as this Choice About Uncirculated example. A 2008 study of 42 Overton-105 halves yielded important information. There were no less than nine die states that could be identified, including a "prime" state of the dies as represented by a single coin. An R.7 rating has subsequently been assigned to the prime die stage with no die cracks.
The 2008 study defined O-105' as "no obverse or reverse die cracks or clash marks," but this is a minor fallacy. O-105 inherits its obverse from O-103b, a late state of that "Punctuated Date" die marriage (in itself very scarce) with the stars drawn to the edge, lightly cracked between stars 1 and 2, and clashed. Likewise, the reverse was brought over from O-104a, also rare, in a late state with incuse segments of milling beneath UNITED, numerous die lines (through the denomination, and near I in AMERICA), and a die gouge from the middle set of olive leaves to the rim. Prior to striking the first O-105 coins, the dies were lapped. On the obverse, the faint crack between the bust and stars 1 and 2 was eliminated, as was a die dot between 1 and 7 in the date. The stars remained sharp but notably drawn to the edge and slightly spindly. The reverse continued to show the multiple milling segments and a short die gouge from a low olive leaf to the rim, a legacy of O-104a.
Still, this is the earliest die state of O-105 (i.e. O-105') and extremely rare as such. The newly refinished dies provide reflective fields and show a noticeable die bulge in the field adjacent to Liberty's chin and neck. Attractive bluish-gray patina covers the uncracked, sharply defined surfaces on both sides. It is clearly the finest example of the prime die state according to the Spring 2017 Steve Herrman census for the O-105' variety (6/17).
From The Southeast Kansas Collection
HID02901242017
1817 50C O-105', R.7, AU55 PCGS. Overton-105 is a scarce variety in any die state, but it is rare in its earliest die state such as this Choice About Uncirculated example. A 2008 study of 42 Overton-105 halves yielded important information. There were no less than nine die states that could be identified, including a "prime" state of the dies as represented by a single coin. An R.7 rating has subsequently been assigned to the prime die stage with no die cracks.
The 2008 study defined O-105' as "no obverse or reverse die cracks or clash marks," but this is a minor fallacy. O-105 inherits its obverse from O-103b, a late state of that "Punctuated Date" die marriage (in itself very scarce) with the stars drawn to the edge, lightly cracked between stars 1 and 2, and clashed. Likewise, the reverse was brought over from O-104a, also rare, in a late state with incuse segments of milling beneath UNITED, numerous die lines (through the denomination, and near I in AMERICA), and a die gouge from the middle set of olive leaves to the rim. Prior to striking the first O-105 coins, the dies were lapped. On the obverse, the faint crack between the bust and stars 1 and 2 was eliminated, as was a die dot between 1 and 7 in the date. The stars remained sharp but notably drawn to the edge and slightly spindly. The reverse continued to show the multiple milling segments and a short die gouge from a low olive leaf to the rim, a legacy of O-104a.
Still, this is the earliest die state of O-105 (i.e. O-105') and extremely rare as such. The newly refinished dies provide reflective fields and show a noticeable die bulge in the field adjacent to Liberty's chin and neck. Attractive bluish-gray patina covers the uncracked, sharply defined surfaces on both sides. It is clearly the finest example of the prime die state according to the Spring 2017 Steve Herrman census for the O-105' variety (6/17).
From The Southeast Kansas Collection
HID02901242017