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 Replies: 10 / Views: 2,583 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
824 Posts |
I wanted to do a poll to see what people thought of this coin with only the information provided in the pictures and text below. The following pages are from the 1847 section of Randy Wiley & Bill Bugert's book "The Complete Guide to Liberty Seated half dollars". I would hope that experts as well as beginners would express their opinion of the variety from the information below. This first image explains the four different varieties listed as a WB-***. Please read all of the details of each variety.  This next one has images of the date placement of the different varieties (WB-***) from previous page.  This is the coin that I would like your opinion on the variety.   To help with the date placement I have added a line to the previous image that shows how the date lines up to the shield.  From the information provided what are your thoughts on this variety? There is more to this story that I will share in a few days! Edited by Heymikep
07/03/2017 2:39 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
VAM listings only apply to Morgan and Peace dollars. VAM= Van Allen and Mallis, the authors who wrote the seminal reference book for both series.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3327 Posts |
OK. Here is an amateur's evaluation. First, we don't get to see a close-up of the standard date like there is for the three less common dies. So, if you think it is one of the more rare dies, I would say it best lines up with the 104 diagram. I'm basing this on your lay lines showing where the "1" hits the denticles. I really like the coin!
Edited - And also due to the fact that I don't see evidence of a recut date in your photo. Otherwise, the 102 die may line up similarly.
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
Edited by Bump111
07/03/2017 4:59 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
With just that information it is a WB-101. The placement of the 1 with respect to the shield stripes doesn't match 102, 103, or 104. It is closest to 102 but the placement appears to be further left.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
824 Posts |
Here is an image of the coin with a straight line for reference. If you look at the notes for the WB-102 it mentions that it is the only obverse die with the date placement this far to the right and that it is higher than the other varieties. The book does not show an example of the WB-101 but also mentions the double die obverse for the WB-102 as the only die with it (this is found on the top vertical lines to the far right and the right side of the shield.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
The date placement still doesn't convince me, HOWEVER, on closer examination notice the right most red stripe above the banner. It is composed of four pales instead of three, the evidence of a doubled die that was mentioned in the text. Based on that I would agree that it is probably one of the two die varieties than make up WB-102.
The problem with the statement in the text that WB-102 has the date further right than any other is that WB-101 is made up of FIVE different obv dies and there is no indication whether any of those may come CLOSE to the right position of WB-102.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
824 Posts |
Condor101, thanks for your information as that helps me understand a little bit more. Here is an image from Bill Bugert's latest book "A Register of Liberty Seated half dollar Varieties, Volume V, Philadelphia Mint, 1839 to 1852". There is supposed to be another one or two more volumes to complete all of the Liberty Seated half dollars. This register has much more information and detail and shows all of the known varieties for any given year. The images are of all of the known 1847 date placements.   For others not familiar with Mr Bugerts' date placement methodology, he references the middle three sets of vertical lines in Liberty's lower shield and calls them L (left), M (middle), and R (right). The line farthest left is L1, then L2, then L3 the spaces between lines are 4 and 5. M3 would be a vertical line dropped from the right-most middle line that follows down the right side of the 1 in 1847. There are two varieties of the 1847/46 and they are listed as WB-9 & WB-10. The following is the identification of this variety.  Edited by Heymikep
07/04/2017 5:35 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Thanks for those images, I don't have Vol V yet so I didn't know how the date placements all went (and we were only supposed to use the information from the older book.)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
824 Posts |
I was hoping for more comments and opinions, over 230 people have viewed this post but only 3 or 4 have responded. PLEASE post ANY opinion you might have! Thanks!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Oh and I forgot to say with the new information you showed it is the 47/6, and it does look like it is probably the second reverse. (no diagnostics given for the first rev. But it does seem to match those given for the second.)
Edited by Conder101
07/12/2017 10:05 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
824 Posts |
I just got my coin back from PCGS. They were able to add the correct attribution.  I am very happy for this because they were able to do both of my coins with the same attribution.  |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,583 |
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Posted 07/03/2017 4:57 pm
