1868 OC-2

1868 OC-2 6 in Denticles Business Strike MPD-001, FS-301 - Top-30 Variety

Die Pair	2 - A
Date Grid	JR of LE / 5-1.0 / S down
Obverse Die States	a

Estimated Rarity	R4
1, 8 Vertical	H, C
Reverse Die States	b, c, d

Comments: This is the first of two uses of Obverse 2 and the second and final use of Reverse A.

Obverse 2
The photo below shows the Obverse 2 attribution grid.

1868 Obverse 2 attribution grid
Repunched 1 and misplaced 6
Obverse 2 can be easily identified by the misplaced 6 in the denticles, noted on the photo. This variety is identified as MPD-001, and is FS-301 in the Cherry Pickers Guide (reference 13). Obverse 2 also exhibits a slightly repunched 1. We’ve included this variety in our Top-30 list. OC-3 shares this obverse die, so either die marriage can be considered as this Top-30 variety.

Obverse 2 Die States

Perfect die.

No later die states have been observed.

Reverse A
Reverse A displays several heavy die lines in the motto that make identification relatively easy. The most notable extends from the field just left of the T in TRUST through the middle of TR to the edge of the scroll right of the base of R. This line is indicated by the arrows in the photo below. Several other lines are visible right of the E in WE, but the line through TR is the most easy to use for attribution.

1868 Reverse A die line through TR in motto

Reverse A is also slightly doubled. The doubling is most visible at the top of the lettering in the motto¸ indicated by the arrows in the photo below. Be careful when using this doubling to attribute the die as several other 1868 reverse dies display similar doubling.

1868 Reverse A die doubling

Reverse A also shows a light die line in the upper recesses of the shield. This line is indicated by the arrows in the photo below.

1868 Reverse A die line through shield recesses

Other die lines around the leaves are also clearly visible. These are shown in the photo below. The lines that extend to the left from leaf #4 are visible on coins that grade as low as VG.

1868 Reverse A die lines around the leaves

All the Reverse A die markers fade as the die state progresses, so proceed carefully on this attribution.

Reverse A Die States

Perfect die.
Polished dies. The right end of the scroll is very weak.
The die has been polished again. The right end of the scroll is weaker and the die lines less notable.
A fine die crack across the top of S OF.

OC-2 is found with states b, c, and d.

Photo credits:

Obverse 1 and Reverse A: 1868 PCGS AU details, cleaned, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse A die lines and doubling: 1868 PCGS PR61, from the Heritage archives, misattributed by PCGS as a proof.