1869 OC-8

1869 OC-8

Die Pair	8 - B
Date Grid	JL of RE / 5-2.5 / Level
Obverse Die States	a

Estimated Rarity	R4+
1, 9 Vertical	VSH, VSL
Reverse Die States	c

Comments: This is the only use of Obverse 8 and the fifth of six uses of Reverse B.

Obverse 8
The following photo shows the Obverse 8 attribution grid.

1869 Obverse 8 attribution grid
Obverse 8 shows no strong die markers. Light die rust in the unfinished area under the chin should be visible on mid- to high-grade examples.

1869 Obverse 8 die rust under chin

Obverse 8 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-8 is found only with reverse die state c.

Photo credits:

Obverse 8: 1869 PCGS AU53, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse B: 1869 NGC AU53, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.