1843






General Comments

1843 is a common date in the Liberty Seated dollar series, with a mintage ranking of 36th out of 46. Examples are easy to locate in virtually any grade desired. They only become rare in choice to gem BU, MS63 or better.

The finest known business strikes are two MS64+ coins graded by PCGS. 11 additional coins have been graded MS64, 4 by PCGS and 7 by NGC. Twenty-five have been graded MS63. With no coins graded MS65 it’s safe to assume that several individuals have tried for upgrades, and a few re-submissions are represented in these statistics. A total of 112 coins have been graded in all mint state grades. Population statistics are as of January, 2019.

In proof format, this date is a significant rarity. The finest known proofs are four PR64 examples, one graded by PCGS, three by NGC. Nine additional coins have been graded in lower proof grades, seven in PR63, three at lower levels. The lowest of these is PR53. One of the PR63 coins graded by PCGS was given a cameo designation. A few of the PR63's and PR64’s listed in the population reports almost certainly represent re-submissions.



Mintage 165,100
Proof mintage 25 estimated
Mintage ranking 36th
Finest known MS64
PR64 Cameo
Known obverse dies 2
Known reverse dies 4
Known die marriages 4
Most common die marriage OC-1/ R1
OC-2/ R1
Rarest business strike die marriageOC-3/ R2
Rarest proof die marriage OC-P1 / R6+

1843 examples are usually well struck, occasionally displaying very slight softness on the star centrals and/or the upper left wing feathers. High-grade business strikes are sometimes prooflike or semi-prooflike, but more often frosty. With high mintage, only three business strike die pairings, and only one business strike obverse die, the dies wore sufficiently to eliminate prooflike surfaces for most examples. However, the obverse die was polished several times, and subsequent strikings are often prooflike.

1843 Die Marriages


The following table summarizes known die marriages for 1843.

Click the links below to view the details of each die marriage.

Die Marriage

Rarity

Obverse Die

Reverse Die

Estimated Survivors

OC-1 R1 1 1842 A 2600
OC-2 R1 1 A 1550
OC-3 R2 1 B 850
OC-P1 R6+ P1 1840 PA 15


OC-1, OC-2, and OC-3 are the only known business strike die marriages. They share the same obverse die. This die exhibits light repunching on the 4, visible below the crossbar. None of the marriages are particularly rare. All three are normally seen with light clash marks. The clashing is most visible in the field under Miss Liberty’s right arm. Examples with unclashed dies are scarce but can be located with patient searching.

Breen lists two varieties, Heavy Date (Breen 5429), and Thin Numerals (Breen 5430). Since only a single obverse die was used we believe that these two varieties are simply die states, not true varieties.

OC-P1 is the only proof die marriage. Of the 15 or so estimated survivors one is lightly circulated. 15 additional coins are listed on the PCGS and NGC population reports, varying from PR62 to PR64. A few of these almost certainly represent re-submissions. The finest known are four PR64 examples, one graded by PCGS, three by NGC.

1843 Business Strike Emission Sequence

The emission sequence can be determined by the reduction in the unfinished area under the chin as the mintage progresses from OC-1 through OC-3.

Emission Order

Die Marriage

Comments

1 OC-1
2 OC-2 Reduction in the unfinished area under the chin indicates that OC-2 follows OC-1.
3 OC-3 Additional reduction in the unfinished area under the chin indicates that OC-3 follows OC-2.


1843 Proof Emission Sequence

With only a single die marriage the proof sequence is simple.

Emission Order

Die Marriage

Comments

1 OC-P1


1843 Quick Finder Chart

Attribution of 1843 die marriages is straightforward. However, with all three business strike die marriages sharing the same obverse die conclusive attribution may not be possible for low-grade examples.

Die Marriage

Obv Die

Rev Die

Right Base of 1

1 Verticle

Grid

Keys to Identification

OC-1 1 1842 A R QTR SH 5-2.0 Obverse:   Date right. Grid = 5-3.0.
Reverse:   3 parallel die lines slant slightly down in upper left shield recess.
OC-2 1 A R QTR SH 5-2.0 Obverse:   Date right. Grid = 5-3.0.
Reverse:   Numerous die lines slant very slightly down in the upper part of shield recesses 1, 2, and 3, most visible in recess #1.
OC-3 1 B R QTR SH 5-2.0 Obverse:   Date right. Grid = 5-3.0.
Reverse:   Many haywire die lines in the shield recesses. A long line near the top of the recesses is the most notable, slanting slightly up across recesses 1, 2, and 3.
OC-P1 P1 1840 PA R QTR VSH 4-3.5 Obverse:   Date left. Grid = 4-3.5. Light die lines near the left tip of the ribbon.
Reverse:   Defects on A3.


Photo credits:

Obverse and reverse full photos:   1843 NGC PR64, ex. Gene Gardner, from the Heritage archives.


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