PCGS The Standart for the Rare Coin Industry

Reference books furnish the key to identifying varieties. The student of Capped Bust half dollars minted 1807-1836 will use Al C. Overton's book on the subject, which describes minute differences in the positions of stars, the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, the numerals of the date, and other aspects, to differentiate one die from another. Sometimes die differences are obvious at quick glance to the unaided eye; other times detailed study is needed.

Among coins of an earlier era, such as the previously mentioned copper coins minted under the authority of the state of Connecticut 1785-1788, die varieties are the basic reason for collecting. Some Connecticut coins are sharply struck from expertly engraved dies, and are on full weight planchets, while others are poorly struck, from crudely prepared dies, on lightweight copper stock.

Among certain varieties of Vermont copper coins of the same era, poorly struck and crude pieces are the rule, not the exception. A variety known as the 1786 Baby Head, attributed as Ryder-9, nearly always comes on streaky, laminated copper planchets. Numerous other examples could be cited.

After 1836 the Philadelphia Mint produced coins by steam power, rather than horse power (in the literal sense of the word). New methods of making dies were adopted, and coins took on a stereotyped appearance. There is little difference among Liberty Seated silver coins of a given date in the 1840s, except for variations in the date numerals, which continued to be punched into the dies by hand. Repunched dates, overdates, and even silly errors can be found during this era. In the later category we have a variety of 1846 half dollar with the last digit of the date punched over an erroneous horizontal 6; the engraver, possibly James B. Longacre, first punched the 6 lying on its side!

One of the weirdest of all 19th century mint products was produced during the 1850s, when the date 1858 on a half dime die was punched in completely upside down, the error recognized, then repunched in the correct position. Under magnification the inverted date can still be seen.

Among 20th-century coins significant die varieties are few and far between, but those which have occurred are avidly collected, among them being the 1955 and 1972 Doubled Die cents and the 1937-D three-legged nickel. There are, however, a host of minor repunchings, die doublings, and the like which have attracted attention.