ATTRIBUTING U.S. COINS AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM
The E-Sylum (1/27/2013)
Book Content





Dan Demeo writes:
Most were pretty trivial, one not so. The copper coins were easy:
1793 C.2 half cent
1794 C.9 half cent
1794 C.7 half cent
1794 S.24 cent
1794 S.67 cent

Dan adds:
Not being a collector of early silver, I did know that all the early silver coins looked similar, with no denomination as part of the design, being distinguished by size (weight), and the presence of edge lettering on the half and dollar. However, no weight or size reference was present. My trusty Red Book showed only 16 star varieties of 1797 dollars, so not a dollar. Halves, I do have Overton's book, and both varieties appear to have crowded reverses with large letters--not a half. Quarters, easy, they didn't make 1797 quarters. Dimes, I see 16 and 13 star varieties in 1797, no 15 star variety. So it must be a half dime, and they did have a 15 star variety of 1797, but I have no reference for that series. Not bad for having a minimum of expertise and references.
Bill Eckberg forwarded the article to some half cent collectors. Regarding the 1794 C7, he writes:
The owner of the Missouri Cabinet says he compared his coin side-by-side with the BM specimen a number of years ago, and thought his was better by a point or two. He said he likes the two of them because they are the only examples that show the full hair detail of that obverse die. They are the only two UNCs, and the hair is more blunt on the other varieties with that obverse.
All who replied agreed that the British Museum coin now looks brown, so the full red Missouri Cabinet example is unquestioned as the finest.
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: MORE U.S. COINS AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n03a21.html)
