1869 OC-4

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

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

Perfect die.
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.
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.