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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,821 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4329 Posts |
I attended a bustling, two day show at Gallatin, near Nashville, last weekend. Finding but two counterstamped coins, I started looking for other pieces of interest. As I'm a Civil War buff, the below-pictured coin has long been among my favorite pieces to find ....     Some fifteen years ago, and subsequently as well, major studies were done on the 1861-O die varieties. When the CSA took over the New Orleans Mint, they used imperfect/discarded dies to strike half dollars. Presently, looking for and especially finding these assorted Confederate-struck coins is a fun venture for collectors. The WB-104 is distinguished by a so-called "speared olive bud." Note the lines extending through the bud, skewering it, in effect. I've found about a dozen of these WB-104's over the years. But two of the WB-103/104's have come my way. This dual variety has the 104 reverse and a die crack that bisects the date. My best 1861-O finds have been two of the most expensive variety, the WB-102; these, distinguished by a jagged die crack from the bridge of Liberty's nose to the rim. On the plus side, one was XF+ auction find. The other was an NGC slabbed UNC (variety NOT noted), salvaged from a shipwreck and acquired from APMEX no less! Reflecting back on my many coin show finds, a long ago dealer-friend once paid this aged cherry-picker the greatest compliment ever .... He told me, "They outta ban guys like you from coin shows."  Happy hunting, folks! |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
94367 Posts |
Interesting backstory, thanks.
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Pillar of the Community
2145 Posts |
Very nice - interesting history as usual! Thanks....great read.
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Moderator
United States
157714 Posts |
Fantastic!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
All interesting but for me it's just a nice looking coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1530 Posts |
I have a well worn "speared olive bud", but wasn't even aware of the different obverses. Will have to get it out and see if there is enough detail to ID the obverse. Thanks for posting!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4329 Posts |
Quote:
All interesting but for me it's just a nice looking coin. Yeah Carl, I get that. Fortunately, for us cherry-pickers, many collectors and dealers feel the same as you do about coins. Then too, making finds like this helps charge my old battery. @ icutler .... I'm sure that many a collector owns a cherry or two that awaits recognition. Some months ago, I made a CCF post on a 1920 Lincoln Cent that was struck in copper-nickel. I owned that coin for about four decades before recognizing it for what it was, a cent struck on an Argine ten centavo planchet! Re the WB-103/104 variety, there's a die crack that runs up and down, between the 18 & 61 that touches the 6.
Edited by ExoGuy
05/29/2021 5:54 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
Well, good golly Miss Molly, even an old goat can learn something new! Thank you for a very informative post.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1071 Posts |
Another fascinating thread! As someone who studies dies (Canadian Victoria large cents) I appreciate the research into identifying the Confederate struck coins from the dies.
How many obverse and reverse dies have been attributed to coins struck by the Confederacy?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4329 Posts |
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.... even an old goat can learn something new! Hey, Parklane .... This old hillbilly is assuming that's a self-deprecating statement? [OO!e @ Phil310 .... I've just the working knowledge of two obverse and two reverse dies. There may be more. Another CCF member made me aware of a Confederate reverse die that evidences an outline around the eagle; this, after I posted one, I'd unknowingly found. If you do some googling on these halves, you can find some in-depth info on them. I believe that there were two, major studies done on this issue, with one dating back some fifteen years ago. Happy hunting!
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,821 |
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Posted 05/27/2021 8:25 pm
