[The following article is published courtesy of DLRC Press and its authors, Randy Wiley and Bill Bugert. This information was originally published in 1993 in The Complete Guide to Liberty Seated Half Dollars.]

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MINTAGE: 200,750

PROOFS: Unknown but possibly one of WB-104.

VARIETIES:

• Authors’ Research Effort: substantial

• Number of Die Marriages Documented: 4

• Number of Head Dies Identified: 4

• Number of Tail Dies Identified: 3

• Number of Collar Reed Counts Identified: 1 (145)

• Standard Diameter or Diameter Range: 1.207 inches

• Number of Major Varieties: 4

• WB-101. NORMAL DATE. (1 HEAD DIE)
  Comprised of only a single marriage, we have seen an interesting example of this variety with the dramatic bounce doubling evident below the prominent date. Breen-4825 (Beistle- icA [3]), was most likely “bounce doubling” instead of a recut date. (Breen-4824)
• WB-102. RECUT 18. (1 HEAD DIE)
  The 18 on this date is recut south; doubling from the first punching shows above the upper loop of the first 8 and the upper serif and upright of the 1. (Breen-Unlisted)
• WB-103. RECUT SECOND 1. (1 HEAD DIE)
  The upper field between the 51 shows the remnants of the top of a 1 centered on line with the tops of the 51. In late die states, a looping die cracks joins the bottoms of the digits of the date. The inside of the reverse shield has very heavy die polish lines. (Breen-4826)
• WB-104. ERRANT 8 IN DENTICLES. (1 HEAD DIE)
  A proof or very prooflike specimen studied by Bugert in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institute has the top of an 8 in the denticles below the space between 85. We have not seen another. (Breen-Unlisted)

COMMENTS:

• When this date is found it usually is high grade, very well struck, lustrous, and expensive.