THE UNITED STATES HALF DIMES
From NBSwiki
The One Hundred Greatest Items Of United States Numismatic Literature Rank: Number 89
Clain-Stefanelli 12350, Davis 1087, Sigler 2655
Only time and patience can unlock die varieties, and Valentine was already in business by 1914, when he exhibited a group of half dimes at the ANS Exhibition Of United States And Colonial Coins (#86). Seventeen years later this ANS monograph, number forty-eight in that series, covered die varieties of early, bust and seated half dimes. Although superceded by Logan and McCloskey’s Federal Half Dimes 1792–1837 (118th in our survey) for early and bust varieties, Valentine remains a core reference for the seated half dime collector. Valentine’s personal collection, nearly eighty years since his death, remains a great numismatic mystery. Despite the forty-seven collotypes included here, the noted half dime variety hunter Stephen Crain has matched but three specimens to the Valentine plates, most notably the mega-coin, a high grade 1802. Further biographical information is provided in Crain’s article “Dr. Daniel Webster Valentine (1863 – 1932),” published in The Gobrecht Journal (March, 2008, issue no. 101).
1st Edition
Photo courtesy of Mark Borckardt Numismatic Library.
VALENTINE, Daniel W. THE UNITED STATES HALF DIMES.
New York: 1951
79pp, 47 plates
Sextodecimo
Softbound: Tan card covers
American Numismatic Society Numismatic Notes & Monographs No. 48
A collected reprint of standard Half Dime works, also titled The United States Half Dimes, was published by Quarterman in 1975.
1975 Reprint
Photo courtesy of Mark Borckardt Numismatic Library.
Photo courtesy of Mark Borckardt Numismatic Library.
Lawrence, MA: Quarterman, 1975
288pp, illustrated
Octavo
Hardbound: Gray cloth, lettered in black
1984 Reprint
Photo courtesy of Alaska Coin Exchange.
Long Island City, NY: Sanford Durst, 1984
185pp, illustrated
Octavo
Hardbound: Black leatherette, lettered in silver