1847 OC-2

1847 OC-2

Die Pair	1 - A
Date Grid	JR of LE / 4-2.0 / Level
Obverse Die States	b, c, d

Estimated Rarity	R1
1, 7 Vertical	SH, SH
Reverse Die States	a, b

Comments: This is the second and final use Obverse 1 and the only use of Reverse A.

Obverse 1
The photo below shows the Obverse 1 attribution grid.

1847 Obverse 1 attribution grid
Obverse 1 exhibits faint die lines slanting down to the right, extending from the right edge of the shield into the gown just above the Y in LIBERTY. These are shown in the photo below.

1847 Obverse 1 die lines in gown
These die lines provide an additional marker to assure proper attribution, but they aren't really required since the date positions for the two known business strike obverse dies are so different.

Obverse 1 Die States

Perfect die.
A faint die crack crosses the base of the date. The crack is faint enough that it will seldom be visible on coins grading below XF.
The die crack is heavier. At this point it may be visible on lower grade coins.
The die has been polished, almost completely removing evidence of the die crack.

The OC-2 die marriage is found with obverse die states b, c, and d.

Reverse A
Reverse A features very heavy die lines at the top of shield recess #1. They should be visible on all mid- to high-grade examples. There are many other die lines in the shield recesses, but those at the top of recess #1 are the most visible.

1847 Reverse A die lines in shield recesses

Reverse A Die States

Perfect die.
The die has been polished. The die lines are still visible, but notably reduced.

No later die states have been observed. This die marriage is usually seen with die rotation of 3-5 degrees counterclockwise. Unrotated examples are very rare.

Photo credits:

Obverse 1: 1847 NGC AU55, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse A: 1847 PCGS AU53 CAC, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.