Walter Breen
1868
In this year at least five complete sets (1¢ to $20 inclusive) were struck in aluminum on behalf of Henry R. Linderman. One of the sets was intact within the last decade, possibly to the present day; others had been broken up but might have been reassembled with comparatively little cost (a statement possibly less realistic for the collector attempting it today!).
Cent. Normal date. [600+] Comes with dies normally aligned and sometimes with rev. 1800 away from normal, i.e. aligned. Significance of this is unknown. One was in LM 11/65:144, and I know I have seen others.
Two Cents. [600+] Apparently three varieties, all with rev. broken-off upper left serif of D restored by hand.
- Base of erroneously placed extra 1 below and r. of 1 of date. Much of detail at top of azure and part of leaves below and left of WE buffed off die. ANS; LM 11/65: 194; others.
- No recutting at 1. recutting within tops of 68. Ornament just below W lapped off die. - No visible recutting at date, which is shallow, placed high, 86 especially close to ball. Ornament below left half of W incomplete. Possibly a little less scarce than either of preceding. The date is always available for a price.
Three Cents Nickel. [600+] Date smaller than on former years, spaced very closely. At least two varieties. Normal size is 18 mm (compare patterns below).
-Thin date, lightly punched into die, 8 distant from curl. This obv. is apparently the die also used on patterns (Judd 615) with broad obv. rim, larger rev. die showing III in a wreath most like that on the gold dollar and $3 pieces.
-Heavy date, very high; base of 1 repunched; OF and final A with extra outlines. Rev. of 1869, many incomplete outer leaves. Garrett set, others.
There are also many patterns with large date, larger dies, rev. a copy of the adopted type on a larger scale with smooth numerals (no ribbing on III), 19 mm; Judd 618. Apparently Joseph Wharton, via his friends and neighbors in the Mint (A. L. Snowden; H. R. Linderman) and Congress (Reps. William Darrah Kelley, R., Pa., and John Adam Kasson, R., Iowa), was attempting to obtain Congressional enactment of a uniform minor coinage in nickel (cent, 3¢ and 5¢), all with the same designs, larger than before, so that more bullion from Wharton's new Canadian mines would be required. The scheme fell through, like about two dozen similar ones emanating from that establishment, earlier and later; its sale remains are the cent, 3¢ and 5¢ patterns struck in nickel and bearing various dates and modifications of the same basic design, showing what his coinage would have brought the nation.
Five Cents Nickel. [600+] Reverse from first hub as in 1867: large stars away from 5, close to legend, some of them pointing at r. base of left foot of A in STATES, r. serif of E in STATES, between AM and between ER; one star very close to top of T in CENT. I mention this in detail because during 1868 a second hub was put into use, for this year only, having stars nearer 5, farther from legend and often looking a trifle smaller, pointing to center of A in STATES, left serif of final S, center of M and about center of R. I have seen no proofs from the second reverse though a die from it is found on copper strikes dated 1867.
There are apparently at least two obverse dies found on proofs. First variety: Normal date, scarcer.
Second variety: Base of 1 recut (fades), circle (lower loop of extra 8) overlaps middle of last 8, scattered lines slant a little down to r. in stripes. (This is the variety represented in the ANS set; ct. also NN 51:438.) Date is away from ball; on some nonproofs the date logotype touches or even overlaps ball. The Garrett set has much of date doubled - early state of above?
Minor proof sets. Cent, 2¢, nickel 3¢ and 5¢. None seen.
Trime. [600] Two obverse dies. Normal date, star point over r. edge of 8. ANS and some others.
- Recutting on tops of I and 6, early plain, later quite faint. This is apparently scarcer. Which came first could only be decided by checking the Smithsonian set, obtained Feb. 20 from the Coiner.
Half Dime. [600] V-I. High date, top of I almost touching base, slanting a little down to r.; shield point between tip of serif and upright of I, skirt pendant minutely left of knob of 6, left base of I r. of center of denticle. Rev.: Right end of ribbon clear of wreath. Valentine plate coin; Neil: 1685 and most others, including ANS, Garrett set.
- V-2. Lower date, slanting down much more to r.; shield point almost over left upright, skirt pendant above knob, left base of I above center or minutely left of center of dentil, Rev. Possibly the same die. Eliasberg. Much rarer in proof than V-I. The clashed or cracked die coin claimed in Neil: 1686 is unidentified. Same comment as to trimes.
Dime. [600] *B-1. Blundered Die. Base and lowest part of upright of misplaced I run into drapery just r. of shield base, above space between 18. Very rare, discovered late 1965. (I) LM 4/1966:185. (2) Garrett set. (3) LM 6/70:131. (4) Kamal Ahwash, discovered at Feb. 1977 Long Beach convention. (5) Pvt. coli., Boston, same as (1) or (3)?
- B-2. Normal die. Date slants down to r., shield point about over tip, pendant almost over knob of 6. Rev. Both ribbon ends doubled, left one touches wreath. ANS, most others. Which came first (as with the lower denominations) might be ascertainable by checking the. SI set.
Quarter. [600] Bvl. Rust pit below B. Base of final 8 repunched (fades). Rev. of 1867, scroll incomplete at WE, etc.
- B-2. Same obv., polished at white stripes. Rev. Scroll normal. Which is scarcer?
Half Dollar. [600] Beistle mentions only one die: date below center of exergual space, some double punching showing. Rev. Without and with crack through AMERICA (the 1867 die?).
- Not in Beistle. High date, left base of I almost over r.edge, shield point minutely r. of 1, one thin line of drapery, toe not enclosed, stars without extra outlines. Rev. Similar to 1866, 2nd and 3rd stripes thin, incomplete at bases; minute doubling on STATES. 1974 GENA: 1602; "Gilhousen":1049; 1975 ANA:646; Garrett set.
Silver Dollar. [600] Two obv. dies, both with rev. of 1867 B-3, 4, reused on 1863-64 motto coins, suggesting that the latter were made in this year.
*B-1. Normal date, high, slants down to r., shield point slightly r. of tip of peak (left serif) of 1. Scarce. 1975 ANA:1118.
*B-2. Date high, slants down to r., showing double punching, which fades; shield point over left upright. "Dupont":2548, to D.I.; LM 9/68:368; 75 ANA:1117; Garrett set; Hirt:1247. Very rare.
Silver-minor proof sets. [600] Quite a few of these survive, some of them probably assembled. Cf. Bartlett: 999; Garrett: 302 at $3,600. One cased set seen in the 1950's. Enough individual coins survive so that despite a moderately small mintage the date is not considered a real rarity. Only on trimes, half dimes and - to a lesser extent -cents do we find date collector pressure.