1842 OC-8

1842 OC-8

Die Pair	7 - A
Date Grid	JR of LE/ 5-1.0/ VS down
Obverse Die States	a

Estimated Rarity	R5
1, 0 Vertical	VSH, C
Reverse Die States	a

Comments: This is the only use of Obverse 7 and second of four uses of Reverse A in 1842.
Reverse A is transitional, later used to strike die marriage OC-1 in 1843.

Obverse 7
The photo below shows the Obverse 7 attribution grid.

1842 Obverse 7 attribution grid

Minor Obverse 7 die markers that may be useful for attribution are some light die polish lines that extend from Miss Liberty’s arm into the field just left of the pole. These are shown in the following photo.

1842 Obverse 7 die polish lines
Obverse 7 is very similar to Obverse 1, 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 7 Die States

Perfect die.

Later die states may exist. I’ve seen only pictures of four examples of this die marriage. Current knowledge is very limited.

Reverse A
Reverse A displays several noted 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 reverse die states have been observed. OC-7 is found only with reverse die state a.

OC-8 is a new die marriage, identified after the publication of my first edition. It’s currently the only new die marriage identified since that January, 2018 publication. I discovered it while updating my auction archives research in preparation for the publication of this second edition.

Photo credits:

Obverse 7: 1842 NGC MS61 from the Heritage archives.
Reverse A: 1842 PCGS MS62 CAC, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.