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May 2002 Issue

By James C. Johnston Jr.
Photos by Steven Vater

• Forming a Type Set II

In the last issue of The Journal, I discussed the formation of a United States twentieth century type set covering the years 1901 to 1964 which would embrace the bronze, nickel, silver, and gold coins of the pre-scrap metal era. Such a type set is possible in uncirculated condition for people of average means. When this set is concluded, one could then move on to collect the coins of the 1801 to 1900 period.

Maybe this time a collector would want to work in reverse. If you have finished the twentieth century coinage, you have already satisfied the need to collect: the bronze Indian Head Cent (1864-1909), the Liberty Head Nickel (1883-1912), the Barber Dime(1892-1916), the Barber Quarter (1892-1916), the Barber Half Dollar (1892-1915), the Morgan dollar (1878-1921), the Coronet two-and-a-half, five, ten and twenty dollar gold coins which all overlap the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The Seated Liberty coinage designed by Christian Gobrecht spans the time period of 1837 to 1891. It was the most common coin design of Victorian America. The coin denominations in this silver series are: the half dime, dime, twenty cent piece, quarter, half dollar and dollar. There are major varieties of each of these with the exception of the twenty cent piece.

The half dimes and dimes were minted in 1837 without stars around the upper and side edges of the coin. Stars were placed on the coin in 1838. Stars continued to be used on the half-dime and dime until 1860 when the stars were replaced by the words, “United States of America.” Thus another variety was created. Arrows were placed at the dates of 1853, 1854, and 1855 coins in the series, and in 1873 and 1874 arrows are to be found again on either side of the date.

“In God We Trust” was added to the silver twenty five cent, fifty cent and dollar coinage in 1866. “In God We Trust” first appeared in 1864 on the two cent coin (minted from 1864 to 1873) in response to a letter sent to President Lincoln which stated that the nation’s coinage should indicate that as a nation we believed in God.

In addition to the seated Liberty coinage, there are some denominations which seem strange to people today such as: half cents, large cents, two cents (already discussed), three cent and twenty cent coins. Half cent coins, designed by Joseph Wright first appeared in 1793. The obverse (front) features a personification of Liberty with long flowing hair facing left.

From 1794 to 1797, Miss Liberty faces right, and like the 1793, she has a pole and cap behind her head. Our collecting begins in 1800 with the “Draped Bust” Liberty half-cent designed by Robert Scot. This coin is affordable in very fine and extra fine condition as is John Reich’s “Classic Head” half cent which was minted between 1809 and 1836. The Coronet Half Cents, designed by Christian Gobrecht, features Liberty with coiled hair facing left.

These Half Cents can be collected, in an affordable range, from 1849 to 1857. Those minted, between 1840 and 1849, only in proof form, are priced mostly in the range of four thousand dollars.

The large cents of the 1800 to 1807 were designed by Robert Scot and look like his half cents. The Classic Head cents, de- signed by John Reich, also look like the half-cents he designed. These were minted from 1808 to 1814.

The large cents minted between 1816 and 1835 are called the “Matron Heads,” because of the mature appearance of Miss. Liberty. These were also designed by Robert Scot. Between 1835 and 1857, Christian Gobrecht’s “Young Heads,” showing a younger and and a more attractive Miss Liberty with coiled hair, were minted. In 1840, the head of Miss Liberty was further refined giving her the more delicate appearance of his “Coronet Style” half cents.

James B Longacre, who must have admired the beautiful “Flying Eagle” on the reverse of the Christian Gobrecht’s “Seated Liberty” dollar of 1836 to 1839, got his chance to use it on a nickel one-cent piece. Forty-two million of these cents were minted between 1857 and 1858 and are affordable in nice condition. His 1856 Flying  Eagle cent is really a proof coin. These were not minted for general circulation and are thought  to number only 1,500 specimens in all.

The popular “Indian Head” cents were minted from 1859 to 1909 and consist of three distinct varieties. The first was the copper-nickel cent of 1859 which was a one-year type. The reverse featured an oak leaf wreath embracing the words “One Cent.” From 1860 onward to the end of the series, a laurel wreath replaced the oak wreath. This is the second variety of the Indian Cent. In 1864, the nickel cent was replaced by the bronze cent. Thus a third variety was born.

Two cent bronze pieces were minted from 1864 to 1873. This attractive coin, slightly larger then a nickel five cent coin, was also designed by James B. Longacre. The obverse (or front) of the coin features a patriotic symbol of a shield, with thirteen stripes, crossed arrows, leaves on either side of the shield and the motto “In God We Trust.”

This was the period of the Civil War, and this motto’s use was inspired by the conflict as well as by the story I already related regarding its use. From the number of worn two-cent coins abounding in the market, we can determine that, the two-cent bronze coin was well used, even if it wasn’t popular. This coin was minted on a regular basis for a scant nine years. In 1873, only 600 proofs of a two-cent coin were struck. These were not for general circulation.

Longacre also designed a tiny and thin silver three cent coin a tiny bit larger than the one dollar gold piece then in general circulation. These were regularly issued from 1851 to 1862 and from 1863 to 1873 in very small numbers. There are three types of these coins to be collected. The first type had no lines around the six pointed star which constitutes the main feature of the obverse design. The second type, issued from 1854 to 1858 has three lines around the edge of the star and a sprig of olive leaves over the Roman Numeral “III” on the reverse (back of the coin.)  A bundle of three arrows was also added to reverse under the Roman Numeral “III.”

The third type of the three-cent silver series has only two lines instead of three lines outlining the star. I have seen many very worn examples of this coin which must have seen heavy circulation. It was not

Three types of Three Cent Silver coins were minted between 1851 and 1873.

generally a popular coin and the mintage between 1863 and 1872 ranged from a  high of 22, 725 coins in 1866 down to 1,950 coins in 1872. Only 600 proofs were struck in 1873 to close out the series.

Next month I shall (really honestly) wind up this three-part article on what you need for a 1800-1964 type set of United states coins. If you would like to see actual examples of the coins I am discussing, visit me in May at one of my coin shows. 

On Sunday, May 5, I shall be at Richard Murphy’s N.E.S.S. Show at the Holiday Inn in Dedham, MA between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and at Tom Lacey’s Greater Worcester Coin Show in Auburn, MA at the Ramada off Exit 10 from the Mass Pike on Sunday, May 26. These shows are a lot of fun. I suggest that you plan to visit the Auburn Show between 9:00 a.m.and 2:00 p.m. You can also check things out at www.johnstonantiques.com. I hope to see you all soon.

Three Cent Nickels were minted from 1865 until 1889. Middle and Right: The first Five Cent Nickels were minted from 1866  to 1882 with the Shield design.

James C. Johnston Jr. was born in the historic Oliver Pond House in Franklin, Massachusetts where he has lived for 58 years. He holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in History and is the author of several books. He has also written more than 1,500 articles and monographs in The Numismatist, Linn’s Stamp News, The Regional Recorder, and other publications.

 Johnston was a teacher in the Franklin system for 34 years and has been associated with Johnston Antiques since 1962. He is a well known appraiser of antiques, books, fine arts, stamps, and coins. He is a founding member of the Massachusetts Suburban Antique Dealers Association, a member of the American Numismatic Association, and the American Philatelic Society. He has also been President of the Franklin Historical Society since 1985.

  Johnston is also a well known lecturer whose topics cover a wide range of social history, antiques, coins, stamps, and the fine arts, as well as, politics and political and military history.