Q.David Bowers
"The entire absence upon the part of cataloguers of collections to describe with any degree of minuteness the varieties of the Half-dimes, would seem to indicate, either that collectors are generally ignorant of the fact that varieties exist, or that they deem them of too little importance to note. It seems unjust that these small but interesting coins should be so slighted, especially when the larger members of the family, the dollars, halves, quarters and cents, are treated by their admirers with such distinguished attention, and so many articles written descriptive of their beauty. An 'Amiable face' [the reference here is to the Amiable Face 1794 one-cent piece given that designation by Dr. Edward Maris in his monograph on the subject], the length of a curl, in short, in a coin any marked peculiarity sui generis seems to insure for it a greater appreciation and value, and one experiences no small feeling of pride in being the happy possessor of a unique piece. In view of this fact I have described the varieties, as far as I have discovered them, in order that collectors may examine their specimens, and perhaps bring to light other varieties thereby adding their valuable observations to my own ... "
Newlin went on to describe early issues of half dimes from 1792 (the first year, a pattern) to 1864. Newlin's favorite issue was the 1802, and to this he devoted eight pages, a third of his monograph. He gave his opinion that the 1802 half dime is the most desirable issue in the American silver series. He then listed 16 specimens (of which his appeared as No.7) and gave history and pedigree of each. Newlin's discussion of the 1802 half dime is one of the most thorough pieces of numismatic research accorded to any individual United States coin issue up to that time. This section is given in its entirety herewith:
"The Half-Dime of 1802"
"I have endeavored, in the following article, to give a list of the number of the Half-dimes of this date known to collectors, and also a brief history, if I may so term it, of each individual piece, describing its condition, price realized when sold at public or private sales, and as far as I am able, the names of the purchasers. I write thus in detail, because I think it may be interesting to collectors to learn all they can about this-the most desirable piece of the American silver series. I foresee, that some Numismatists will take issue with me in the statement, that the 1802 Half-dime is the most desirable of the silver series. My reason for giving it the most exalted place, I will endeavor to explain. If a collector were asked to name the four rarest American silver coins, he would, I am sure, naming them in the order of their demominations, say: the 1804 dollar, 1823 quarter, 1827 quarter, and 1802 Halfdime. I will assume that these are the rarest.
"The 1804 dollar has been re-struck. The dies were not destroyed till the year 1806, and I believe the pieces were restruck from the dies, upon two occasions, a short time prior to this year. Disgraceful as the fact is-true it is, that these pieces were re-struck in the United States Mint by some of its employees, no doubt, for the purpose of speculation; and a restruck specimen now graces the Mint Cabinet, and is described in the most glowing terms to strangers, as one of the most valuable pieces in the collection, worth, no doubt, one thousand dollars. The custodians of the collection know full well, that their piece is a re-strike, for I am indebted to one of them for this information. I wonder that they allow the piece to remain, testifying as it does to the past queer doings of the Mint.
"The 1827 quarter has also been re-struck. The 1823 quarter is struck from the altered die of the quarter of the preceding year, and possesses no characteristics of its own. The 1802 Half-dime is open to none of these objections. It has never been re-struck. The dies were made for that year and were destroyed. I have seen many dangerous counterfeits of the 1804 dollar and of the 1823 quarter, but I have never seen one of the 1802 Half-dime.
"Upon these facts I base my opinion, that the Half-dime of 1802 is the most desirable of the silver series.
"There are, I believe-and I make this assertion, having given the subject a good deal of study and research-but sixteen specimens of the Half-dime of this year, known to be in the possession of dealers or collectors. That a larger number were coined I do not doubt, but what that number is, will never become known, as the Mint authorities declare there is no way of ascertaining it. In 1863, but three specimens had been discovered-the number is now more than quintupled, and it may be further increased, but very gradually, I am sure, and not at all in proportion to the increasing demand.
"No. 1. The first 1802 Half-dime, sold at public auction, brought $340. It was sold in the collection of Wm. A. Lilliendahl, of Tremont, N.J., Dec. 15, 17, 1863. Catalogued by W m. H. Strowbridge, thus: '1802- The finest of three known. This piece is the rarest of the American series and more desirable than the dollar of 1804. Never before offered at auction.' (This specifimen was in only Very Good condition.) I do not know by whom it was purchased.
"No.2. Catalogued by W. Elliot Woodward, in Mickley's Sale-'1802. Not fine, but in Very Fair condition. This piece is rarer than any other coin in the American Silver Series, there being but three specimens known, one of which is finer than this, the other not as good. The former sold in Mr. Lilliendahl's sale for $360.' (Error, it brought $340.) Purchased by Mr. Sanford for $45.
"Subsequently sold in the Sanford collection of coins for $45. Purchased by Mr. Parmelee, afterwards sold in one of Mr. J. W. Haseltine's sales for $56 to Wm. H. Cottier, Esq., of Buffalo, New York, and again sold in a sale of that gentleman's silver series, May 5th, 1882, for $39 to Mr. Sampson, Dealer.
"No.3. In the sale of the collection of John F. McCoy, Esq., of New York, catalogued by Mr. W. Elliott Woodward, May 17-21, 1864, another specimen appeared, thus described: '1802: Obverse in very satisfactory condition; the date and every portion of the head, together with the stars in front of the face and the word Liberty, with the exception of two letters together with a portion of the stars back of the head, are perfectly distinct. Some of the stars are partially and others wholly obliterated, as are the letters Li in Liberty. The piece is further blemished by two slight scratches across the face; the reverse is scratched and very badly worn. This piece was originally from the Stearn collection and more recently from that of Dr. Augustus Shurtleff. Of its genuineness there is no possible doubt, being one of but three existing, it is the very rarest and most desirable of the silver series.' Sold for $50, name of purchaser not known.
"No.4. In the sale of the collection of Henry S. Adams, Esq., October 30, 1876, catalogued by Edward Cogan, a specimen was sold, described thus: '1802: The obverse of this extremely rare Half-dime is in better condition than any I remember to have been offered at auction for some years, and is decidedly better that the one in the Langford collection, which sold for $45. In this condition it will be desirable for any collection.' Brought $70, purchased by Mr. Ashworth.