1842 OC-3

1842 OC-3

Die Pair	3 - A
Date Grid	JL of RE / 5-2.0 / VS up
Obverse Die States	a, b

Estimated Rarity	R2
1, 0 Vertical	VSH, VSH
Reverse Die States	a, b

Comments: This is the first of two uses of Obverse 3 and fourth and final use of Reverse A in 1842.
Reverse A is transitional, later used to strike die marriage OC-1 in 1843.

Obverse 3
The photo below shows the Obverse 3 attribution grid. Obverse 3 exhibits die lines that parallel the left arm above the thumb, shown in the second photo. These die lines make attribution relatively easy for any examples VF or better.

1842 Obverse 3 attribution grid

1842 Obverse 3 die lines above the left thumb
Obverse 3 Die States

Perfect die.
Doubled clashing visible under Miss Liberty’s right arm.
Light obverse rim cuds extend from below the left rock tip to just left of the 1. The die has been polished. The clash marks are less notable.
The rim cuds now extend to below the 8.

No later obverse die states have been observed. OC-3 is found with obverse die states a and b.

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

Perfect Die.
Very light clash marks in the field under the right wing.

No later die states have been observed. The OC-3 die marriage is found with reverse die states a and b. It’s the only 1843 die marriage that exhibits the reverse die clashing.

Photo credits:

Obverse 3 and Reverse A: 1842 PCGS MS62 CAC, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.