United States 1805 half dime
This specimen was lot 4049 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $22,800. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Rarely Offered Choice AU 1805 Half Dime. the only known dies. Rarity-4. AU-58 (NGC). This coin displays remarkable near-Mint quality for this scarce and conditionally challenging date in the early half dime series. Satiny in texture and impressively smooth, both sides are warmly toned in silver-rose and light steel patina. An abundance of vivid multicolored undertones include shades of reddish-pink, champagne-gold and powder blue. The strike is typical for this challenging die pairing with Liberty's bust and the opposing area at the upper right reverse quite blunt. Other areas are appreciably bolder and, in the absence of significant wear, the overall design is fully appreciable. The final year of issue for the Draped Bust design type and a single die marriage issue, the 1805 is also the last half dime produced by the United States Mint prior to 1829. The generally accepted mintage for this issue is 15,600 pieces, a total that was quickly and inexorably reduced by commercial use. In fact, no more than 2% of the mintage is thought to have survived to the present time. Over a long period of years, the greatest of American collections have rarely had an impressive example of the 1805 half dime, for in addition to its absolute scarcity, it is a classic rarity in high grades. Apart from isolated grading events in MS-62 and MS-64 (both at PCGS), as well as a handful of AU examples, all survivors are in lower grades, typically Fine to VF. It is particularly noteworthy that the D. Brent Pogue specimen was certified AU-55 by PCGS at the time of our May 2015 Pogue I Sale. The presently offered specimen also undoubtedly ranks in the Condition Census, and it is sure to find its way into an advanced collection of half dimes specifically, or Draped Bust silver coinage in general."
This type was struck at the Philadelphia mint 1800-05 and supersedes an earlier type with a smaller eagle on the reverse. The earlier type is very rare, this type is only rare. The 1802 half dime is one of the keys of the United States series. Half dimes, dimes and quarters are all scarce prior to the 1830's, locals finding Spanish American half, one and two reales adequate for their needs.
Recorded mintage: 15,600.
Specification: 1.35 g, 0.892 fine silver, 16.5 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: LM-1, KM 34.
- Breen, Walter H., Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U. S. and Colonial Coins, New York: Doubleday, 1987.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 65th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2011.
- Alexander, David T., Coin World Comprehensive Catalog & Encyclopedia of United States Coins, Sidney, OH: Amos Press, 1995.
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