1842 OC-1

Die Pair 1 - A
Date Grid LE / 4-5.0 / VS up
Obverse Die States a, b, c, d, e
Estimated Rarity R3
1, 0 Vertical SH, SH
Reverse Die States a



Comments:    This is the only use of Obverse 1 and the first of four uses of Reverse A in 1842.
Reverse A is transitional, later used to strike die marriage OC-1 in 1843.


Obverse 1

The photo below shows the Obverse 1 attribution grid. Also note the die lines slanting up to the right just right of the end of the scroll.



1842 Obverse 1 attribution grid
and die lines right of scroll

Obverse 1 also displays notable die lines just above the right elbow, pictured in the photo below.



Obverse 1 die lines above right elbow

Obverse 1 is very similar to Obverse 7, so much so the I mis-attributed two OC-8 examples as OC-1 in my research for the first edition. The marks above the elbow are similar. The date exhibits minor position differences. Be very careful when attempting to differentiate the two die marriages. OC-1 is much more common.

Obverse 1 Die States
  1. Perfect die.
  2. Doubled clash marks visible under Miss Liberty’s right arm.
  3. Die polishing removed most of the evidence of the die clashing.
  4. The die has clashed again. The clash marks are now tripled.
  5. Heavily cracked obverse die. The most notable crack extends radially from the rim through star 7 across Miss Liberty's chest to the right elbow.
Sometime before or during state d the dies rotated. The OC-1 marriage is frequently seen with a counterclockwise rotation of 10 degrees. State e is very scarce. It was first reported by Jacob Lipson of Heritage, lot #3922 in their 2016 Summer FUN auction.


Reverse A

Reverse A displays several notable die lines in the upper left shield recesses. These are pictured in the photo below.



1842 Reverse A die lines in shield recesses


Reverse A Die States
  1. Perfect die.
  2. Very light clash marks in the field under the right wing.
No later reverse die states have been observed. OC-1 is found only with reverse die state a.



Photo credits:

Obverse 1:   1842 NGC AU58, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse A:   1842 PCGS MS62 CAC, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.


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