1859-O OC-1

Die Pair 1 - A
Date Grid L QTR / 4-2.5 / Level
Obverse Die States a, b, (c?)
Estimated Rarity R1
1, 9 Vertical SH, SH
Reverse Die States a, b, c, d, e, f



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


Obverse 1

The photo below shows the Obverse 1 attribution grid. Obverse 1 exhibits no notable markers, but with only two obverse dies known the date position is sufficient for attribution.



1859-O Obverse 1 attribution grid

Obverse 1 Die States
  1. Perfect die.
  2. Very lightly clashed in Miss Liberty's lap. The clash marks are sharp.
  3. Additional clashing in Miss Liberty's lap. At least two clash marks are visible. The clash marks are sharp.
  4. Die polished. The clashing is less evident, but still very notable. The clash marks aren't as well-defined as in the earlier states.
No later die states have been observed. We only seen photos of obverse die state c. We believe that the die clashed a second time and was immediately removed from service and polished. An example with this die state would be extremely rare.


Reverse A

The photo below shows the mintmark position for Reverse A.



1859-O Reverse A mintmark


Reverse A exhibits no notable markers. The mintmark position is similar to Reverse D. The mintmark has a slight clockwise rotation, different from Reverse D, which is rotated slightly counter-clockwise.

Reverse A Die States
  1. Perfect die.
  2. Lightly clashed in the shield recesses. No die cracks.
  3. A faint die crack from the top of T1 through the middle of ED to the base of S1. Another joins the top of TE. A third joins the base of OF.
  4. The die cracks have advanced. The crack through TED is heavier. A faint die crack has formed across the top of TES into the field between S O. Another joins the base of OF, then extends from the base of F across the middle of A2 to the top left corner of M, across the top of ME.
  5. A new die crack joins the base of NIT. The other cracks have advanced slightly.
  6. There is now a tiny internal cud that looks like a metal blob on the top of the die crack, half way between F and A.
No later die states have been observed, although a later state probably exists based on the heavy deterioration of this die during its lifetime.



Photo credits:

Obverse 1:   1859-O NGC MS65, tied for finest known, ex. Gene Gardner, from the Heritage archives.
Reverse A:   1859-O ANACS MS60 cleaned, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.


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