1859 OC-2

1859 OC-2

Die Pair	1 - B
Date Grid	C / 4-3.0 / Level
Obverse Die States	a, b, c

Estimated Rarity	R3
1, 9 Vertical	VSL, VSL
Reverse Die States	a, b

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

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

1859 Obverse 1 attribution grid
Obverse 1 exhibits no notable die markers. The area under Miss Liberty’s chin is completely finished.

Obverse 1 Die States

Perfect die.
The die has been polished. The toe isn't fully enclosed.
Tiny rim cuds are visible opposite stars 1-2.

No later die states have been observed. OC-2 has been found with all three obverse die states.

Reverse B
Reverse B displays very few die markers, but one minor one distinguishes it from others for the year. The photo shows the extension of horizontal shield line #1. It’s visible outside the left-side shield border but not between the borders.

1859 Reverse B shield line extension

Reverse B Die States

Perfect die.
Shattered die. The reverse is surrounded by light die cracks.

OC-2 is found with die states a and b. Die state b is apparently very rare. We’ve seen only one example. We’ve seen OC-2 with die rotations of up to 15 degrees counterclockwise. These rotations don’t seem to be particularly rare.

Photo credits:

Obverse 1: 1859 NGC MS64 CAC, from the Heritage archives.
Reverse B: 1859 PCGS AU55, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.