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1845 
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General CommentsIn mint state 1845 is one of the rarest dates in the Liberty Seated dollar series. The finest known coins are two MS64 examples, one graded by PCGS, the other by NGC. Six additional coins have been graded MS63, three by PCGS and three by NGC. Only 37 coins have been graded in all mint state grades. Population statistics are as of January, 2019. Proof coins are also notable rarities, but not quite as rare as some of the other dates in the 1840’s. The finest known proof is a single PR67, the Pittman-Kaufman coin, graded by NGC. Two additional coins have been graded PR66, both by NGC. Twenty coins have been graded at lower levels, the lowest PR53. Several of these are almost certainly re-submissions. |
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1845 examples are usually well struck, but sometimes display slight softness on the star centrals and/or the upper left-wing feathers.
Most high-grade business strikes are prooflike or semi-prooflike. Due to the low mintage, the dies didn’t wear enough to eliminate their prooflike appearance.
1845 Die Marriages
The following table summarizes the known die marriages for 1845:
Click the links below to view the details of each die marriages.
Die Marriage |
Rarity |
Obverse Die |
Reverse Die |
Estimated Survivors |
| OC-1 | R2 | 1 | A | 1250 |
| OC-P1 | R6+ | P1 | 1840 PA | 16 |
| OC-P2 | R7+ | P2 | 1840 PA | 4 |
OC-1 is the only known business strike die marriage. The dies are normally clashed. The clashing is most visible in the field under Miss Liberty’s right arm. Examples are known with a single clash and with two clashes, the latter being the most common. We’ve seen a few examples with perfect dies, no signs of clashing, but this die state seems to be quite rare.
Of the 20 estimated proof survivors 5 or 6 are mishandled or lightly circulated. Four of these are in problem-free holders. The remainder are graded as problem-free proofs and vary from PR61 to PR67. The finest known is the PR67 example slabbed by NGC and pedigreed to the Pittman and Kaufman collections.
OC-P1 is the most often seen proof die marriage. It shows major repunching on the 84, most notable on the 8. The OC-P2 variety appears to be extremely rare. We found records of only two sales in the Heritage archives. Both examples were sold in NGC PR65 holders, though the holder numbers were different. Based on photo matching we can’t confirm that they are the same, so we’ve assumed that they represent two different coins. A coin in the National Collection at the Smithsonian is reported to be this die marriage, but we haven’t viewed it to confirm that attribution.
Breen lists a possible third proof die marriage, an obverse with a normal date paired with a reverse different from Reverse 1840 PA. He cites the coin in the National Coin Collection as an example. To date we’ve been unable to confirm this die marriage. We hope to review the national collection at some future date. If their 1845 proof is indeed an example of this die marriage we’ll add it to our reference at that time as OC-P3.
1845 Business Strike Emission Sequence
With only one business strike die marriage the emission sequence isn't terribly interesting.
Emission Order |
Die Marriage |
Comments |
| 1 | OC-1 |
1845 Proof Emission Sequence
The proof emission sequence is purely arbitrary. There was not enough wear on Reverse 1840 PA
to conclusively identify the sequence.
Emission Order |
Die Marriage |
Comments |
| 1 | OC-P1 | |
| 2 | OC-P1 |
1845 Quick Finder Chart
The table below shows the characteristics that allow quick identification of the die marriages.
Die Marriage |
Obv. Die |
Rev. Die |
Right Base of 1 |
1 Verticle |
Grid |
Keys to Identification |
| OC-1 | 1 | A | JR of LE | VSH | 4-5.0 | Obverse: Right base of 1 is LE. Almost always seen with clash marks in the field under Miss Liberty's arm.
Reverse: Heavy die line in upper right shield recesses. |
| OC-P1 | P1 | 1840 PA | L QTR | H | 5-1.5 | Obverse: Date right.
Reverse: Defects on A3. |
| OC-P2 | P2 | 1840 PA | JR of C | SH | 4-2.5 | Obverse: Date left.
Reverse: Defects on A3. |