America's Silver Coinage, 1794 -1891.
Coinage of the Americas Conference
Proceedings No. 3 (New York, The American Numismatic Society 1987) illus.
ISBN 0-89722-219-9.

BOOSEL, HARRY X. The Silver Coinage of 1873, and the So-Called Crime of 1873.

The Philadelphia Mint's Chief Coiner's dissatisfaction with the numeral "3" used on early coinage of 1873, and the "Coinage Act of 1873" combined to make 1873 the year with the greatest variety of silver coins of any year. Varieties are discussed in detail and are readily distinguishable. The author proves that the "Coinage Act of 1873" really was the "Crime of 1873" because of foreign influence on its passage, and that the Act destroyed free coinage, demonetized silver and almost doubled the public debt.


COHEN, DAVID H. The Industrial Revolution Overtakes the Production of Dies.

The author examines the introduction of punches at the U.S. Mint during the l830e as the means for creating master dial for coinage production. Die punch trial pieces from the ANS and SI collections are examined and illustrated as are date digit punches for all years from 1840 through 1873.

DAVIS, DAVID J. Early Half Dimes: Observations and Discoveries.

The author reviews the literature on U.S. half dimes and relates the circumstances of the discovery of several new varieties as encouragement for further examination of this series.


HILT, ROBERT P. III. The "Group Strength" of Dies for Early Half Dollars.

The author discusses the methodology employed in his book Die Varieties of Early Untied States Coins (Omaha, 1980), to establish the "group strength" theory of die production, arguing that mint officials conscientiously built an inventory of working dies in each denomination and rebuilt the group to its proper group strength when the supply was used. Recognition of this organization permits identification of all dies for each denomination of the early coinage.

LEAMAN, IVAN and GUNNET, DONALD. Edges and Die Sequences on Early Half Dollars.

This article is the result of more than 15 years spent studying the edges of many thousands of early half dollars. Presented here is the method of manufacture of the edge dies and the causes of the many edge varieties seen. The edge die sequences have been used as the basis for establishing the emission order for the capped bust half dollar series (1807-36), which is presented diagrammatically for each year.


LOGAN, RUSSELL J. The Third Die: A Different Look.

The author describes and illustrates an inexpensive method for photographing the edges of coins and provides examples of recent coin edge research in American coinage.


LOVEJOY, ALLEN F. and SUBJACK, WILLIAM L. Early Dimes, 1796-1837.

The authors survey the work of the mint's engravers as disclosed in the early dimes. First, design variations in draped bust dimes engraved by Robert Scot are analyzed. Then the work of John Reich, Scot, and William Kneass in connection with engraving and producing Capped Bust dimes is discussed.

MC CLOSKEY, JOHN W. "Unheralded" Hub Changes in the Gobrecht Series.

Silver coins of the Liberty Seated design were minted by the United States government from 1837 to 1891. The author examines minor design revisions made during three periods designated as the Gobrecht era 1839-1842, the Civil War era 1858-1862, and the Centennial era 1875-1878. Each design revision is carefully described and the existence of transitional varieties noted.


NEWMAN, ERIC P. and BRESSETT, KENNETH E. The Fantastic 1804 Dollar: 25th Anniversary Follow-up.

When a book on a once controversial subject such as the 1804 dollar took a firm and specific position 25 years ago it was expected that others would take the opportunity to accept or challenge some or all of its findings and conclusions. These commentaries are discussed and new observations and clarifications are added along with an outline of the changes in ownership of the known specimens. The reasons for the creation of the 1804 dollars are restated.


STARK, ROBERT M. The Dollars of 1794-1803.

From the motivations for the dollar coinage in the brilliant plan for the Congress of the Confederation in 1782 to its realization in 1794 and to its demise a scant dozen years later in the Jefferson administration, principal features of the coins, legislation, and personages are highlighted. Illustrations of some major varieties are included.


WILEY, RANDALL E. and BUGERT, WILLIAM. Liberty Seated Half Dollars.

The first of two parts titled "Die Varieties of Liberty Seated Half Dollars" expounds on factors contributing to a lack of knowledge regarding die varieties for the series. The extensiveness of the Liberty Seated series, the stabilization of the Liberty Seated design, and the half dollar denomination as compared to other denominations are discussed. Wiley discusses the difficulties of identifying die varieties in this extensive series and presents an approach whereby a reference collection is assembled using limits established from U.S. Mint die shipment records. Detailed information and mintmark photographic enlargements are given for a 46 piece sample of S-Mint "No Motto" half dollars dated 1855-66. Bugert discusses four specific varieties with detailed die characteristic information supported by photographic enlargements presented on each variety. The discussion of the 1840 with reverse style of 1838 presents proof that the variety (without mintmark) was a product of the New Orleans rather than the Philadelphia mint as previously thought.