Obverse Text: FIFTY / 50 / THE PRES. DIRECTS. & COMP. OF THE GREENE COUNTY BANK PROMISE TO PAY [name] OR BEARER FIFTY DOLLARS ON DEMAND. / NO. 237 / CATSKILL 4 JULY 1825.
Obverse Image: Portrait bust of Liberty facing left, hair bound with a fillet, stars surrounding, date below.
Obverse Text: 1829
Reverse Image: American eagle holding a bunch of arrows and branch, denomination.
Reverse Text: UNITED / STATES / OF / AMERICA / E / PLURIBUS / UNUM / 5 D.
Description
The 1829 half eagle comes in two types, large-module, struck before the introduction of the restraining collar, and small-module, struck afterwards. One proof is known for the first category, three for the second. The Smithsonian proof is from the second group. The most obvious way of distinguishing the two types is by means of the date. The date is large on Type 2, much smaller on Type 2.
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty wearing a coronet. 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1823
Reverse Image: Wreath.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / ONE CENT
General Information: 1823 over 1822.
Description
Robert Scot created these designs, which remained in use between 1816 and 1835.
Cents of this type are likely to have been seen by almost every collector for they are among the most common of early American coins. But this coin is not common. The year 1823 is one of the scarcer dates in the cent series. In addition, this coin is an "overdate." It was created from an earlier die (for 1822 cents) that was softened, redated for the current year, hardened, and put back into service. Overdates are quite common among early American coins, as a fledgling United States Mint tried to cut corners wherever it could.
Finally, this coin is a "proof." It was struck on a highly polished planchet (a disk of metal cut and prepared for striking as a coin) under far more exacting standards than ordinary coins. It has been estimated that only two other proof 1823/2 cents exist.
One (1) George Washington Before Boston medal, (Comitia Americana)
United States (France), 1820
Obverse Image: Right facing portrait bust of Washington based on Houdon's work.
Obverse Text: GEORGIO / WASHINGTON / SVPREMO / DVCI / EXERCITVVM / ADSERTORI / LIBERTATIS / COMITIA / AMERICANA / DUVIVIER / PARIS. / F.
Reverse Image: Washington on horseback speaks with four mounted officers beside several cannons from Fort Ticonderoga; in the background the Continental Army runs toward Boston and eight British ships sail in retreat.
Reverse Text: HOSTIBUS / PRIMO / FUGATIS / BOSTONIUM / RECUPERATUM / XVII / MARTII / MDCCLXXVI / DUVIV.
General Information: Engraved by Benjamin Duvivier, galvanos from first strike, Paris, circa 1820.
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1829
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield on chest. Scroll above eagle.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 2 1/2 D.
Description
This 1829 proof quarter eagle introduces us to a modified coining technique and to a slightly modified design. The coin (and its multiple, the half eagle) would henceforth be struck using a one-piece, "close" collar. Also, a third die whose vertical striations produced the familiar "reeded" edge we still see on coins today.
Striking the quarter and half eagles in a collar resulted in better metal flow and sharper detail. But it also required modest changes in the obverse and reverse designs. The work was carried out by William Kneass. As many as a dozen 1829 proof quarter eagles including this one may exist. Most have been damaged by handling.
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1825
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield on chest. Scroll above eagle.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 2 1/2 D.
Description
Perhaps three proofs including this one exist in this denomination exist for 1825. All of the early proof coins in the National Numismatic Collection came to the Smithsonian Institution as a result of the transfer from the U.S. Mint during the 1920s.
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing cap surrounded by 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1824
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield on chest. Scroll above eagle.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 2 1/2 D.
Description
United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Capped head of Liberty facing left, stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, motto above, denomination below. This is one of six proof quarter eagles known for 1824.
The obverse die used for this coin was first dated 1821. The die was redated three years later to produce a handful of proofs dated 1824. Collectors call such coins "overdates."
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing a cap. 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1828
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest. Scroll above eagle.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 5 D.
Description
Only two proof half eagles are known with a perfect 1828 date. This is one. Add the known number of surviving strikes for regular circulation and there is still a total of only eight coins!
Obverse Image: Scene of people working. Enslaved workers in field at left, white harbor workers at right.
Obverse Text: V / 5 / FIVE / THE PRESIDENT DIRECTORS AND CO. OF THE FARMERS & MECHANICS BANK OF AUGUSTA GEORGIA PROMISE TO PAY _ OR BEARER FIVE DOLLARS ON DEMAND / NO. _ / AUGUSTA _ 18_ / A
Obverse Image: Left-facing Liberty head wearing a cap. 13 stars along coin edge.
Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1825
Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest. Scroll above eagle.
Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E PLURIBUS UNUM / 5 D.
Description
The obverse die for this proof was created in 1821, then recycled for the production of proof coins a few years later. The coin it produced is called an overstruck 1825 coin, or 1825/1 (1825 over 1821) in technical terms. This is one of two known 1825/1 proof half eagles. Two 1825/4 (1825 over 1824) coins made with a recycled 1824 die have also been discovered.