The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-04-02

The half dollar is one Of the most
plentiful OF all the series Of United
States coins, having been issued reg
ularly each year with but four ex-
ceptions since the coinage of the de-
nomination first began in 1894. These
exceptions were the years 1898, 1893,
1900 and 1904.
This Is the reason why go few of
them are rare nowadays and that many
specimens of the early dates are to be
had for little more than face value in
a condition that would indicate they
were only a year or two old instead
of dating back nearly a hundred years.
as many do.
Altogether there have been issued
.235 varieties of the half dollar, and all
of the branch minis have struck coins
in this denomination except those of
Dahlonega, Ca, and Charlotte, N. c.,
which were authorized to strike only
gold coins.
The very rare half dollars are those
dated 1896 and 1897. OF those of 1896
there are two varieties, one with If
teen stars on the diverse around the
bust of Liberty, the other with sixteen
stars. Each of these two varieties has
brought $50 when in perfect condition
The 1897 half dollar is the rarest,
and very fine specimen of this coin
has brought as much as 1920. The
next rarest is the 1888 half dollar
struck at New Orleans, with the mint
letter 20" under the bust. This coin
is worth from $50 to SIS. another rare
half dollar was struck at the San Fran.
cisco mint in 1866. This coin omits
the motto of I'm God We Trust" which
is borne by all the other varieties of
the year, and is valued at $24.
But, common as are the regular half
dollars, yet there have been many pat
tern half dollars, struck at the mint
in different metals by the designers,
which are scarce and form most in
teresting series.
The first pattern half dollar to come
from the mint was really the one
bearing the bust of Washington, which
was engraved by Peter Getz, of Lam
caster, Pa, who had been blacksmith
and had taught himself engraving and
die cutting. These were struck in
1892, but did not meet with the favor
of Washington and were not adopted.
These coins as rule are not included
among the regular United States mint
patterns so the series is supposed to
begin with the pattern half dollar
struck in 1914. This showed the head
of Liberty with seven stars to the right
and six to the left. Underneath was
the date "'1814." On the reverse was
an eagle with outstretched wings bear
ing a shield. On scroll above the
eagle was the motto: e Pluribus
Unum." This coin which struck
platinum from the regular dies of the
pear and bears the word "Platina" en-
graved upon the reverse, while on the
diverse are number of cps punched
in the field. Only two of these coins
were struck, being the only ones of
United States issue ever to be coined
in the metal. One of these is now in
the mint collection at Philadelphia. 1t
Is not known where the other specimen
1t offered for sale.
In 1924, 1925 and 1880 half dollars
were struck in copper from the regu-
lar dies of the year and all these coins
are held at premium.
In 1886 a pattern half dollar was
struck in silver. This showed the
head of Liberty with the word Glib
erty" on the corOnet, thirteen stars
surrounding the head. On the reverse
was an eagle with outstretched wings
and shield, three arrows and an olive
branch and 80 cents"
In 1888 among many pattern half
dollars was novel ofe showing the
head of Liberty wearing a turban,
which was the adopted design of the
year. On the reverse was an eagle
with a shield. Another slightly diff
ferent pattern was also struck in this
year, while two other pattern half dol
lars showed Liberty with a diadem
upon her forehead, the hair tied in
knot and flowing about the neck, the
latter was struck in both copper and
silver.
A handsome pattern half dollar of
this year shows flying eagle on the
reverse. On the diverse was bust If
Liberty. This coin was struck in silver
and copper, a specimen in the former
metal having brought SO. A very
scarce variety of the 1888 pattern half
dollar shows the eagle with an olive
branch in his right talon and four ar
rows in the left. A proof specimen in
silver has brought $31.
Another variety of the same year
shows Liberty seated on a rock to the
left, holding in her right hand a shield
bearing the inscription Liberty" while
on the left is staff surmounted by a
liberty cap. On the reverse is a de-
fiant eagle with five arrows in the left
talon and an olive branch in the right.
In silver a fine specimen of this coin
has sold for SAL.
These diverse and reverse dies were
used in different combinations and al
together twelve different varieties of
pattern half dollars came from the
mint in 1888, most of them also ap-
pearing in copper as we'll as silver.
In 1889 two more patterns of this
denomination were turned out in sill
yer and copper, the head of Liberty, to
the right, being surrounded by thir-
teen stars. On the reverse was a de-
fiant eagle with United States shield
on his breast. In the right talon is
an olive branch, in the left three ar
rows. This same reverse was used on
the regular 1889 half dollar. In silver
it has brought $3.50. The second
variety is not SO scarce. 1t has the
same diverse and reverse but the let
tiers on the reverse are larger than on
the first. A proof specimen of this
coin in silver has brought $31.
In 1882 was struck one of the only
two gold half dollar patterns that ever
came from the mint. This was known
as the ring half dollar, because of
hole in the center. The diverse had
the Inscription United States of
America" The reverse is blank, and
the edge is milled. Only two speci-