NEW BOOK: THE 1838-O HALF DOLLAR

The 1838-O Half Dollar, An Alignment of the Stars, by Kevin Flynn and John Dannreuther will be going to the printers in the beginning of January and should be ready at end of January. This book is being self-published, with only a limited number being printed. The book is 8 ½ by 11, approximately 90 pages. Softcover $29.95 plus shipping.

The primary purpose of this book was to do a complete analysis of the 1838-O half dollar. It start out as a simple question as to whether some coins were struck in Philadelphia and ended up uncovering most of the history of this variety.

The evidence absolutely shows that all of the 1838-O half dollars were struck at the New Orleans Mint. No specimen was struck by the Philadelphia Mint before the dies were shipped to the New Orleans Mint in April, 1838. There were also two strikings in New Orleans, one in late January, and a second in late March 1839. We show which coins were struck during each striking. The archive records found and presented show why most of these coins were struck, who struck them. Many of these records have not before been published. The diagnostics of the coins was also used to determine other key elements such as the order the coins were struck and also helped determine a second striking was made in late March.

A detailed photograph comparison was done between the 1838-O Smithsonian specimen, that is the key to these discoveries, and the 1838 proof at the Smithsonian, and other 1838-O half dollars is provided. There are die cracks on the 1838-O Smithsonian specimen that do not exist on any other 1838-O half dollar. Also presented is an analysis of the 1839-O half dollars that have been called proofs that is also an integral part of the 1838-O half dollars.

All theories are presented with an analysis of each. All facts, conclusion, untrue, and a summary are given. A historical timeline and detailed analysis of the die making process will help understand some of the dependencies.

Our analysis of the 1838-O half dollars, besides the Smithsonian specimen was primarily through photographs and digital images, same was for the 1839-O half dollars called proofs. We are looking to study the other 1838-O half dollars to confirm the die states and surface texture. Please contact John or myself if you have a specimen.

Price for the softcover is $29.95. To order, send a check or money order to Kevin Flynn, P.O. Box 396, Lumberton, NJ 08048. Please include $5 for media shipping or $10 for first class shipping. Please email me at kevinjflynn88@yahoo.com to reserve a copy. See other books available at www.kevinjflynn.com .

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