32 Days Of Capped Bust Half Dollars!

echizento, I'd need larger pics to be sure, but I don't see the clash marks on the reverse under the ribbon on yours, nor can I tell if there is a die crack coming from the back of liberty's head just below the top curl over the ribbon.

my 1814/3 O-101a. My first bust half, I paid $19 I think a deal I thought.

Clashing is a very common occurrence on these coins, in fact, on the earlier dates, it should be considered the norm rather than the exception. Rotation is also commonly observed on these early dates, sometimes very dramatically, noticeable between obverse and reverse flipping of the coin.

Many times though, the rotation is there, but is far more subtle. This subtlety may be brought out into the open by repetitive clashing. If a die is clashed only once, no big deal.......... If it is clashed twice, slight rotation may be observed in the placement of these clash marks.

This particular coin (O-102a.....R-3) illustrates just that point as a clash occurred not twice, but three times. This can best be seen under the bird's left wing, in the partial form of LIBERTY ( BERTY). This variety is available with one clash....... or with two clashes, (the second beside the first)........ or, as in the case of this specimen; a third clash between the first two.

Further evidence of clashing can be observed in several other areas of the reverse (Liberty's hair between the stripes of the shield for instance, and Liberty's outline from the arrowheads to the left wing to the scroll above it, under and above the scroll in a couple of places into the lettering near the rim).

Unfortunately, the area under the bird's right wing appears as a worn area, but this is not the case. This phenomena is caused by poor annealing, and the die has sunk. All examples of this variety will show this.

This is a fairly common coin, and one worth seeking out if you happen to be a clash nut.

That is because the clash is with the headband (exactly like on a Morgan). Those letters in the headband are at field level, while the headband itself is the engraved device. On CBH the scroll on the reverse is also the device while the letters in the scroll are the field.

edited to add:

In the case of the E PLURIBUS UNUM scroll however, the scroll is actually surrounded by the field (where the headband is not), so the edges of the scroll are also clashed under Liberty's bust (whereas the headband is not located in the field, so only the letters transfer in a clash). Capisce ?

And I like your attributions Moe, (and that scroll to wing break----NICE).

Nice coins, I haven't added an 1814 yet to my collection. Cash flow problem lately.

Sorry to hear that. Had to sell my collection of Morgans, broke my heart but I needed the money. It's going to take a very long time but I want to complete the CBH series with as many varieties as I can afford to buy. I still need the 07, 08, 09, 11, & 14 to complete just the date set. Well almost, I don't expect to ever be able to afford the 1815.