Lapping is one of several names, including die polishing and die filing, for the fine abrading used to finish a die when it is first produced or, more frequently, repaired. At the time of production, a die usually has some inherent flaws from nicks and scratches to swelling and cracks. The tiny flaws, like a random scratch in the dies, may usually be corrected by minor polishing with a fine grain abrasive such as steel wool or emery. The fine markings etched on the die by the abrasive are called “die finish lines” or “lapping lines,” though usually “die finish” refers to a finer grain than “lapping lines,” which are more likely caused by a file or something of heavier grain. The abrasives may also be used to smooth out rust or damage on a well-used die, or to smooth over a small crack. Occasionally, dies will be “lapped,” thus effacing details, and re-engraved or repunched. Misplaced dates and the like show only light remnants of the errantly placed punch because most details were simply “lapped” away. This term is most often used in reference to mid 19th-century coinage it seems, though you can undoubtedly see fine lines of “die polish” or “die finish” on coins in your pocket change.

The so-called "Booby Head" of 1839 is a modification of the bust of Liberty that shows one of her hair strands curling around the truncation of the bust.  In real life, this is anatomically impossible and it is doubtful that a sculptor would add such an unusual feature to a physical bust.  The nickname was first applied by Dr. Montroville Dickeson in 1859, then standardized in 1868 by Ebenezer Locke Mason, Jr.  It has been in use ever since and is one of the more distinctive varieties in the Matron Head series of Large Cents.

The following was posted by Margie Sheaffer. Margie has been working coin shows for Northeast for the past several years.

I have always been a “Glass Half Empty” sort of person. It especially rears its ugly head whenever I fly the not-so-friendly skies. To my delight, it looked like my first flight in 2016, to the 61st FUN convention in Tampa, WOULD be a friendly experience. First of all, I boasted a record driving time to Philadelphia airport from my home – just 70 minutes! Secondly, I got through the security line in less than five minutes. And lastly, I boarded the plane so quickly it made my head spin.

I never make New Years resolutions; however, this year I made an exception. I vowed to read more, write more and most importantly, chill out more. This was to be the first time in four years that I did not bring my Kindle on a plane trip. Plus, Tom and Chris would be glad that I was determined to chill out. When Tom suggested that I memorialize some of this year’s F.U.N. experience, I knew that my resolution to write more was a good decision.

Oops… I spoke too soon about my Tremendous Travel experience. At 8:30 am as I sat on the plane that was to have departed at 7:55 a.m., the co-pilot comes on the intercom declaring “The gas tank is leaking and we are not sure how long it will take to repair”. So I declared to myself on the inside: “Please chill out, please chill out, please chill out. Perfect weather…check. First flight out…check. No problems with security…check. No traffic driving to airport…check.”  I then declared to the passengers next to me “I rarely fly anywhere that I don’t have at least a one hour delay,” to which a woman next to me declared “Please give me your phone number. I want to make sure I never fly on the same plane you’re on.”  

As we finally departed for Tampa at 10:00 am, I closed my eyes and in an A-PLUS chilling mode I asked myself if I ever thought, at my long-in-the-tooth age, that I would be having the time of my life working for and with Tom of Northeast Numismatics. I’ve known Tom for over 35 years. I met him in the 1970’s while working for a Beverly Hills coin dealer. His dry sense of humor has always kept me on my toes. That is why I like to use the chat acronym LAHW when defining my time at Northeast.   No, it’s not Let’s Always Have Worries (which could fit my MO). LAHW stands for Laughs and Hard Work.

Within an hour of the convention opening to the public on Thursday, the 7th, the bourse room was so full of activity and the aisles were so crowded, I was tempted to ask Tom for a Segway to steer my way around the floor.  I could have maneuvered around the convention space like Paul Blart Mall Cop. 

At home I’m lucky if I log in 1,000 steps per day on my pedometer.  During the week of F.U.N. I recorded over 14,000 steps per day visiting with and doing business with many coin dealers. With over 600 dealers set up and anxious to do business, I was quite busy showing coins to as many people as possible.

We had a pretty good amount of traffic at our table. I met some interesting, as well as eccentric, collectors that came to our table to introduce themselves, look at (and sometimes buy!) our coins and to compliment Chris on our website. It was a pleasure to see new faces at our bourse table.

Saturday afternoon I departed the bourse floor to catch a ride to Tampa International Airport to start my trip home. There have been conventions in the past that I am ready to catch that plane to Philadelphia. At times I have left a little earlier than I needed to.  (Shh…don’t let Tom and Chris know this.) The 2016 F.U.N. show was great upbeat show and was not one of those shows that I was ready to sneak out of early!!!

If the quantity of retail and wholesale business done during the F.U.N. show is any indication of the business that will be done for the rest of the year, then 2016 should prove to be a great year for dealers and collectors alike!

1823 Capped Bust Half Dollars : Patched 3

This variety of the 1823 Capped Bust Half Dollar features the "Patched 3" in the date. The broken 3 was repaired with a patch placed in the middle of the "3". This resulted in a blunt punch bump that filled in the center gap on the outside (right side) of the "3" - to connect the two broken parts.

The difference between the normal 3 vs broken 3 vs patched 3 vs ugly 3 vs tampered 3 is depicted below in the example comparison image of all 5 major varieties:

We typically do not remove coins from their holders and resubmit them to the grading services in an attempt to maximize a grade on a coin. (Folks who specialize in this are known as crack out artists.) Recently, however, we had a major crack out session. We acquired a complete 144 coin silver commemorative set graded by ANACS, with nearly all of the coins in old white holders. The set was purchased from a dealer who years ago dealt primarily in ANACS coins back when this grading service enjoyed more popularity.

For a short while we attempted to sell the commems in their ANACS holders as a single set, but it generated little interest. You can see from the mounds of plastic in the pictures below what our next course of action was. Russell from our office bought a drill press vice and went to work on the set. He then wrote all the coins up on several submission forms and sent them off to NGC.

Stay tuned, as we will have an abundance of freshly graded commems available in the near future!