Photos used with permission and courtesy of Rare Coin Wholesalers – Steve Contursi

Throughout the broad range of U.S. coinage from 1792 to the present day, this issue is arguably the most significant of any that has ever been struck. Although still recorded as a pattern issue in some references, most numismatists now consider the 1792 half disme to be a regular issue coin.

Slightly smaller than a modern dime and weighing half as much. Disme (pronounced, “deem”), is an early spelling of the word, dime.

Over the years, much has been speculated and much has been written, but little is known for sure. Many false and unsubstantiated claims have appeared in print about this coinage issue. Among such claims is one that suggests Martha Washington posed as “Miss Liberty” for the engraver. Another claim that remains unsupported is that the Washingtons provided their family table service for the coinage.

Both of these claims date back to 1860, when James Ross Snowden wrote: “The bust of Liberty is popularly supposed to represent the features of Martha Washington who is said to have sat for the artist while he was designing it … This piece is said to have been struck from the private plate of Washington, which is not unlikely, considering the great interest which he took in the operations of the infant mint, visiting it frequently, and personally superintending many of its affairs.” (more…)

by Greg Reynolds for CoinLink

On Wednesday, Oct. 17, a Choice Uncirculated 1876-CC Twenty Cent piece will be offered by Stack’s in New York City. It is graded “MS-64” by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). As of 01:30 AM on Tuesday, Internet bidding already pushed the price over $200,000. A large variety of U.S. coins and many other numismatic items are included in this auction event.

This 1876 Carson City (NV) issue is an attractive coin, and is moderately brilliant. Its reverse (back) is very attractive and features a cool, very frosty eagle that glows in vivid contrast to gray-silver fields. There are a few hairlines and small contact marks here and there, but these are not particularly distracting. As on all 1876-CC Twenty Cent pieces, the letters in LIBERTY are doubled. Other design elements are doubled as well.

Twenty Cent coins were only minted for circulation for two years, in 1875 and ‘76. People confused them with quarters, and generally found them to be annoying. The silver mining industry, directly and indirectly, had influenced several members of Congress to sponsor legislation mandating a Twenty Cent coin.

Twenty Cent pieces have been favorites with collectors for a very long time. Even in the 19th century, collectors demanded them. For two additional years, in 1877 and ‘78, Proof Twenty Cent pieces were specially made, many of which were sold directly to collectors by the Philadelphia Mint. (more…)