4593

1838 $5 J-A1838-6, P-3064, R.8. MS65 PCGS. This variet 1838[$5] J-A1838-6, P-3064, R.8. MS65 PCGS.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:57.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1838 $5 J-A1838-6, P-3064, R.8. MS65 PCGS. This variet 1838[$5] J-A1838-6, P-3064, R.8. MS65 PCGS.
<B>1838<$5> J-A1838-6, P-3064, R.8. MS65 PCGS.</B></I> This variety was recorded by Judd in his Appendix on Die Trials, in the earlier editions of his reference. Don Taxay (<I>Scott's Comprehensive Encyclopedia</B></I>), Andrew Pollock, and Dave Bowers all stated that the existence of this splasher is unconfirmed or unverified. Today, it is a pleasure for us to describe this piece and to offer it for sale. It is a white metal splasher of the reverse of the 1838 Half Eagle, with Small Letters, with a wide border outside. The surfaces are pale gray with some luster remaining visible. It is doubtful that these splashers had much luster in the first place.<BR> This particular piece is an extremely important link to the die making process. The topic is Guide Lines. Many early die varieties, in their earliest states, had remnants of thin arcs that remained on the die, usually only visible in the open spaces between words. The basic suggestion was that these guide lines were placed on the dies for proper alignment of individual <I>letters.</B></I> We can now state that such was not the case. This splasher clearly shows the guide lines placed on the die only exist between <I>words.</B></I> The alignment that the engravers were concerned about was not the individual letters in the legend, but the relationship between words and the border. For example, there is no evidence of a guide line between the letters of UNITED, but there is a clear and continuous guide line beginning at the top of the D, passing through the wing, and stopping at the top of the first S. Fascinating.