2016-03-02 Wed

An unusual 1792 pattern half disme will be on sale at Heritage’s March 3rd to 6th American Numismatic Association National Money Show auction in Dallas.

The issue was the first struck under the Mint Act of 1792. Washington mentioned the production of the coins in his Nov. 6, 1792, State of the Union Address and while the mintage was intended to be a circulating issue, 1792 half dismes are often considered patterns.

Heritage catalog mentions: “The coins were actually struck in the cellar facility of Philadelphia sawmaker John Harper because the First United States Mint was not ready for operations in its own building at that time. On the 13th, Jefferson recorded the following statement in his personal account book, ‘Recd. from the mint 1,500 half dismes of the new coinage.’ “

The obverse has three blisters, one before head, one on cheek and behind it. Today these “blisters” are referred to as laminations, a planchet error that it the result of an improperly prepared planchet.

It is graded Very Fine 25 by Professional Coin Grading Service, which records on the holder that it is a “Laminated Planchet Obv. Mint Error.”

The American Numismatic Association National Money Show is set for March 3rd to 5th at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.