1841 OC-1

1841 OC-1 Repunched 4

Die Pair	1 - 1840 A
Date Grid	L QTR / 5-4.0 / VS up
Obverse Die States	a, (b?)

Estimated Rarity	R2
1, 1 Vertical	VSH, C
Reverse Die States	c

Comments: This is the first of two uses of Obverse 1 and the first of two uses of Reverse 1840 A in 1841.
Reverse 1840 A is transitional, first used for 1840 die marriage OC-1.

Obverse 1
The photo below shows the Obverse 1 attribution grid.

1841 Obverse 1 attribution grid
and die lines

Obverse 1 exhibits heavy die lines slanting down to the right, extending from the lower right edge of the shield into the gown. The arrows on the attribution grid photo show these lines. The 4 in the date is also repunched. The photo below expands the view to show this repunching.

1841 Obverse 1 repunched 4

Obverse 1 Die States

Perfect die. Repunching at the top of the 4 is clearly visible.
Polished die. Repunching at the to of the 4 has been removed by die polishing.
Tiny rim cuds below 84.

No later die states have been observed. The OC-1 die marriage is found with obverse die state a, and possibly state b. We haven't seen an example of the later die state.

Reverse 1840 A

Reverse 1840 A features minor die markers that will be visible on mid- to high-grade examples with reasonable magnification. The following photo shows the markers, extensions of the vertical lines both above and below.

Reverse 1840 A die markers

Reverse 1840 A Die States

Perfect die. Light die lines are visible slanting down to the left from the denticles above IC. These will be visible only on high-grade coins, strong XF or better.
Very light clash marks in shield recesses 2 and 3.
Polished die. The light die lines above IC are no longer visible.

No later die states have been observed. OC-1 is found only with reverse die state c. The die clashing occurred during the 1840 usage.

Photo credits:

Obverse 1: 1841 PCGS AU53, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse 1840 A: 1841 NGC AU55, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.