1855 OC-1
Business Strike

Die Pair P1 - PA
Date Grid JL of C / 4-3.5 / Down
Obverse Die States a
Estimated Rarity R3+
1, 5 Vertical C, L
Reverse Die States a, b



Comments:
   Both dies were used to strike both proofs and business strikes.
Proofs were struck prior to business strikes, thus the P precedes the die designator.
Reverse PA has not been found in any other years.


Obverse P1

The photo below shows the Obverse P1 attribution grid. This is the only 1855 obverse die. It was first used to strike proofs, hence the P1 designation.



1855 Obverse P1 attribution grid


Obverse P1 Die States
  1. Perfect die.
No later die states have been observed.

Reverse PA

1855 Reverse PA exhibits no notable die markers. A few unfinished areas in the reverse shield, shown in the photo below, are the only barely notable features.



Reverse PA die markers in shield

In late die states Reverse PA exhibits a die crack that extends from the rim below E4 to the top right side of the N in ONE. This die crack, shown in the following photo, is unique to business strikes.



Reverse PA die break


Reverse PA Die States
  1. Perfect die.
  2. A die break from the rim below the right side of E4 to the top right side of N2.
No later die states have been observed. OC-1 has been seen with die rotations of up to 10 degrees counterclockwise.



Photo credits:

Obverse P1 and Reverse PA:   1855 ANACS AU53, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse PA rim mark:   1855 PCGS PR63 CAC, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.


Copyright © 2015-2021, by Dick Osburn and Brian Cushing, All rights reserved.