1854 OC-1

1854 OC-1 Repunched 4

Die Pair	1 - A
Date Grid	JR of C / 4-2.0 / VS down
Obverse Die States	a, b

Estimated Rarity	R3+
1, 4 Vertical	C, VSL
Reverse Die States	a, b

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

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

1854 Obverse 1 attribution grid
This is the only business strike obverse die. Its unique date position and the repunched 4, indicated by the arrow in the photo, make it easy to attribute. It can be noted from the photo that the date is rather lightly punched into the die. Even high grade examples show this light date relief.

Obverse 1 Die States

Perfect die. The repunched 4 is clearly visible.
Light clash marks are visible in the right obverse field under Miss Liberty's right arm.

No later die states have been observed.

Reverse A
1854 Reverse A isn’t easy to identify, but it’s seen only on 1854 OC-1, so that’s not a big issue. A few markers will allow confirmation on higher grade examples. The most obvious is a relatively heavy die line in the denticles above RI in AMERICA. There are also unfinished areas between the lower and middle leaves and between the lowest leaf and the lower berry. These areas exhibit some very light die lines and lumps.

1854 Reverse A die line in denticles

1854 Reverse A unfinished areas

Reverse A Die States

Perfect die.
Very faint clash marks.

The die clashing which identifies state b is extremely light. We know it’s there because the clashing is clear on the obverse, but it’s almost impossible to see without a high grade coin, high powered magnification, and a vivid imagination.

Photo credits:

Obverse 1 and Reverse A: 1854 PCGS AU50, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.