By Doug Winter – RareGoldCoins.com

The Philadelphia mint began producing the familiar Liberty Head half eagle design in 1839. After a quick modification in 1840, this issue continued without change until 1866 when the motto IN GOD WE TRUST was added to the reverse.

The branch mint No Motto half eagles from the 1840’s are very popular with collectors. But their Philadelphia counterparts have lagged behind, both in price and level of demand. I would not be surprised to see this change a bit over the coming years given the fact that the Philadelphia issues are much more affordable and a complete “by decade” set from the 1840’s is within the budget of most gold coin collectors.

Here is a date by date analysis of the Philadelphia half eagles from the 1840’s, to assist new collectors.

1840: Mintage: 137,822.

This is one of the more common issues from this decade. There an estimated 400-500+ known and they are easily located in all circulated grades. In Uncirculated, the 1840 is scarce. I believe that there are around fifteen to twenty known with most in the MS60 to MS62 range. There is one Gem. It is originally ex Pittman I: 947 where it brought $41,250 as a raw coin. It last appeared as Heritage 2/06: 1853 where it sold for $43,125. It has been graded MS65 by both PCGS and NGC.

There are two varieties known. The more common has a Narrow Mill (or diameter) while the scarcer has a Broad Mill. The Broad Mill variety seems to be considerably harder to find in higher grades, especially in Uncirculated. The Broad Mill has an extremely distinct appearance and it is much easier to distinguish from the Narrow Mill than on the New Orleans and Dahlonega issues of this year.

1841: Mintage: 15,833.

The number of half eagles produced at the Philadelphia mint in 1841 is the fewest of the decade. This is the second scarcest date in this subset but it has an interesting grade distribution. There are an estimated 125-150 known and this issue is generally seen in Extremely Fine or in the MS62 to MS64 range.

There was a hoard of 1841 half eagles that was found a few decades ago. Most are in the MS63 to MS64 range and are characterized by sharp strikes, excellent luster and rich golden coloration. I have personally seen at least four MS64 examples and believe that there are a few more known. In all, probably 10 to 15 exist in Uncirculated. The finest is Bowers and Merena 12/04: 2635, graded MS65 by NGC, which sold for a record-setting $27,600. PCGS has not graded any pieces higher than MS64 and their current listing of eight examples is certainly inflated by resubmissions. (more…)

The one-day seminar, “Introduction to Counterfeit Detection of United States Coins,” will be offered April 22 at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn in Dearborn, Mich. The seminar is presented through the ANA’s Florence Schook School of Numismatics, and is in conjunction with the Michigan State Numismatic Society’s Spring Convention, April 23-25.

Join instructor Mike Ellis, noted numismatist and variety specialist, and learn how to detect counterfeit and altered coins seen in the marketplace today. All types and denominations of U.S. coins will be discussed, with genuine and counterfeit specimens present for hands-on study. There will also be opportunities for group discussion and one-on-one instruction.

“Introduction to Counterfeit Detection of United States Coins” will be held Thursday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuition is $149 for ANA and Michigan State Numismatic Society members, and $199 for non-members. To register for this seminar, e-mail education@money.org or call 719-482-9850.

For more information about the Michigan State Numismatic Society, visit www.michigancoinclub.org.
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DVD’s of the educational presentations delivered at the Money Show of the Southwest are now available for collectors.

Speakers include former football great Greg Bingham, historian and teacher Ricardo DeLeon, collector Sebastion Frommhold, coin promoter and lecturer Mike Fuljenz, coin fund manager Bob Higgins, Money Show coin convention chairman Carl Schwenker, and PCGS president Don Willis. The Greater Houston Coin Club sponsors these educational presentations.

These videos are available in the latest DVD format and are produced by David Lisot, founder of Cointelevision.com. Lisot has been involved in video and television production since the 1980’s. He has produced hundreds of titles about collecting and works with the major numismatic coin and currency collector organizations to videotape the educational seminars delivered at their conventions. The presenters of these seminars are many of the most well known, knowledgeable, and important people in the coin hobby.

Cointelevision.com is a free video news service website that offers video clips from these coin conventions as well as segments from many educational presentations.

The DVD’s from the Money Show of the Southwest retail for $24.95 plus $4 S/H. A complete list of hundreds of other DVD’s available about coin collecting can be found at Coinvideo.com.

TITLES OF DVD’s

Benefits of Third Party Grading
By Don Willis

Don Willis is president of the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). He shares new developments on the PCGS website along with the benefits offered by third party grading.

MSSW09-001
Length: 52:32 (more…)