1869 OC-4

Die Pair 4 - B
Date Grid R QTR / 5-1.0 / Level
Obverse Die States a
Estimated Rarity R5
1, 9 Vertical VSL, SL
Reverse Die States a



Comments:
   This is the only use of Obverse 4 and the first of six uses of Reverse B.


Obverse 4

The following photo shows the Obverse 4 attribution grid. This die displays no notable markers other than the date position.



1868 Obverse 4 attribution grid


Obverse 4 Die States
  1. Perfect die.
No later die states have been observed.


Reverse B

Reverse B can be identified by a small die chip in the eagle’s mouth. This marker appears like a comma on the coin. It’s shown in the following photo.



1869 Reverse B die chip

Because of its position in a recessed area of the coin this marker is visible on even relatively low-grade examples, although because of its small size it may be difficult to detect from pictures.

Reverse B Die States
  1. Perfect die.
  2. Die cracks across the top of UNITED, joining the top of ST, across the top of TES O to the denticles above F, across the top of AMERIC.
  3. Die cracks are heavier, particularly across TES O.
OC-4 is found only with reverse die state a.



Photo credits:

Obverse 4 and Reverse B:   1869 NGC AU53, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.


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