1843 OC-1
Repunched 4

Die Pair 1 - 1842 A
Date Grid R QTR / 5-2.0 / Level
Obverse Die States a, b, c
Estimated Rarity R1
1, 0 Vertical SH, VSH
Reverse Die States b



Comments:
   This is the first of three uses of Obverse 1 and the only use of Reverse 1842 A in 1843.
Reverse 1842 A was previously paired with three different obverse dies in 1842.


Obverse 1

The photo below shows the Obverse 1 attribution grid.



1843 Obverse 1 attribution grid


The 4 exhibits minor repunching under the crossbar, seen in the photo below. This diagnostic can be seen even on late die states.



1843 Obverse 1 repunched 4

Obverse 1 Die States
  1. Perfect die. In this early die state light die polish lines can be seen extending diagonally up to the left from the denticles, beginning just right of the 3 and extending right to near the toe.
  2. Light clash marks in the field under Miss Liberty's right arm. The marks are doubled and sharp.
  3. The clash marks have been weakened by die polish.
  4. The die has been polished again, almost totally removing evidence of the clash marks and the die polish lines from the denticles right of the 3.
OC-1 has been found with obverse die states a, b, and c.


Reverse 1842 A

Reverse 1842 A is transitional from 1842. It was used for 1842 die marriages OC-1, OC-2, and OC-3. It was re-used in 1843 to create OC-1. It features heavy die lines in the shield recesses. Three parallel die lines cross the top of the first recess, slanting slightly down to the right. The upper and lower lines extend into the second recess. The first 3 vertical shield lines extend to horizontal line #2. The following photo shows the most identifiable of these markers.



Reverse 1842 A die lines in shield


Reverse 1842 A Die States
  1. Perfect die.
  2. Very light clash marks are visible in the field under the right wing.
The die clashing occurred in 1842, so only state b is seen in 1843. The OC-1 die marriage is frequently seen with a counterclockwise die rotation. Rotations of 5 and 10 degrees have been noted. The die rotations are relatively common.



Photo credits:

Obverse 1:   1843 NGC MS61, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Obverse 1 repunched 4:   1843 PCGS AU55, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Obverse 1 rim cud:   1843 PCGS VF30, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse 1842 A:   1843 PCGS MS62 CAC, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.


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