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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,999 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
I recently found an 1838 Half Dime for sale and was hoping to get some assistance determining 100% what attribution it should receive, large stars or small stars. I did some research on the various die states online and looked at the example PCGS has up on its Coinfacts page. This coin has all the attributes of the small stars variety, which I have highlighted below. There are the telltale pit marks in Liberties arm, head and leg. It's most prominent on the arm. On the third star on the left, there are the additional "nubs" coming out of the points from where the die was not completely polished. Additionally, on the first star on the left the lowest point does not go below the line on the rock Liberty sits on. I am 99% certain this is a small stars variety, and closely mirrors the coin PCGS has as an example. To further solidify that this is the small stars, one can also look at the reverse and see the Cud forming just above the A in America. This die marriage is almost identical to other small star attributed 38 Half Dimes. What say the experts. I am at small stars, but want to make sure my sleuthing and final conclusion is not completely off base. The "stars" do look more like "asterisks" though! PCGS CoinFacts link: http://www.pcgscoinfacts.com/Coin/Detail/4318  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
Looks like small stars to me...loading image...your link does not work for those who are not subscribers for the Coinfacts...loading image...Is it not attributed on the NGC slab? Looks like an AU55+.  Edited by oih82w8
02/13/2013 3:53 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
I can easily see the difference! Now, how to describe?
The "Large" points are like triangles, whereas the "Small" points are just that - POINTS.
YES! EFLargeCents, "asterisks" is the perfect word to describe the "Small" stars! The "Large" stars are reminiscent
of the Jewish "Star of David."
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1304 Posts |
I somehow had a free view of CoinFacts. I didn't realize folks couldn't also temporarily see the site. As it turns out I don't have access anymore either. But the coin you have posted above is the coin I was referring to (the small stars example). The reverse of that coin is below. You can see the Cud above the A.  Edited by EFLargeCents
02/13/2013 4:17 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
Yes, I believe that non-subscribers get a few "free views", which I am not a memeber of the "coinfacts".
What is the grade on the NGC slab?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
NGC gave this coin an AU58. The attribution....is what I am trying to get a consensus on from members here. But here is what it received from NGC. I am not sure how they came to this conclusion.   Edited by EFLargeCents
02/13/2013 4:31 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
Comparing the pictures provided, it looks like small to me as well.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
After looking at all of the pictures of Half Dimes ... I forget just HOW TINY they are in person! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
It's a nice Half Dime.  Is it an up for auction coin? Edited by oih82w8
02/13/2013 5:59 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
It was up for auction. I had been watching it for about a week and coming back and researching the die marriages and what the key indicators were for the small stars variety in 38. I also read up on the history of the 38 Half Dime and what happened to the dies at the time. After all my reading I decided in my mind this was definitely a small stars variety and bought it BIN off ebay. It was overpriced for a 38 Large Stars in AU58, but after researching Heritage auction prices for the small stars variety in AU over the last few years as well as the population report at PCGS in the higher AU/MS grades, I took the plunge. I will be submitting it to PCGS once I get it in hand. It will be a nice coin in my seated type set either way, but it will be a great find if it comes back small stars. There are only 32 AU58 or better coins certified by PCGS of the small stars variety, assuming it would come back AU58 (though I suspect it will be more like AU55). I hope this is a great lesson on buying the coin and not the holder. Sometimes you have to take a risk. It also helps that I read this coin is often misattributed by TPG's. Edited by EFLargeCents
02/13/2013 6:05 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
I would have done the same thing...resubmit it for attribution. Nice grab!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
Now that I have purchased this one, I went back to ebay and started searching through all the other 1838 Half Dime listings. I know I can't post auctions here, but I do see one suspect TPG slabbed with a jelly bean graded example for sale that is attributed as small stars, but I don't think it is. I see someone else trying to sell a large stars as a small stars. The thing I look for is the arm. Liberties arm needs to have the appearance of being pitted. The stars themselves are a bit misleading, as wear could give the appearance of them being small. Truly a fascinating year for the Half Dime. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
As I have said many times, attributions from PCGS and NGC should never be blindly accepted. You MUST confirm all attributions because they make way too many errors. And keep in mind that NGC's guarantee does NOT cover attributions.
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Valued Member
United States
156 Posts |
Just one of those few instances where a collector can benefit from NGC's many attribution blunders. Certainly NGC would reholder this pro bono with corrected attribution if properly documented to them, however if the opposite were the case (overpaid for purchase of a Large Stars variety, which NGC had improperly attributed as Small Stars) the OP could count on being told by NGC to pound sand for compensation of market value difference.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,999 |
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Posted 02/13/2013 4:01 pm
