1870 OC-1

1870 OC-1 Doubled Die Reverse

Die Pair	1 - A
Date Grid	JL of RE / 5-1.0 / VS up
Obverse Die States	a, b

Estimated Rarity	R5+
1, 0 Vertical	SL, SL
Reverse Die States	a, b

Comments: This is the only use of Obverse 1 and the second of ten uses of Reverse A.

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

1870 Obverse 1 attribution grid

This die is almost completely unfinished under the chin, with numerous lines and lumps in the unfinished area, as shown in the following photo.

1870 Obverse 1 unfinished under chin

Obverse 1 Die States

Perfect die.
Very light clash marks.

No later die states have been observed.

Reverse A
Reverse A displays a very strong die line, joining the lower two leaves. Also note the die rust around the end of the lower leaf.

1870 Reverse A die line

The Reverse A die is strongly doubled. This will be notable on high grades, but may not be detectable on grades below VF/XF.

1870 Reverse A die doubling

Reverse A Die States

Perfect die.
Very light clashing in shield recesses.
Die crack across the top of UNITED.
The die crack now extends across the top of STATES.
A faint die crack crosses the top of AMERICA.
The crack across the top of STATES now extends to the rim right of S2. An additional die crack crosses the top of OF extending toward the rim right of F.

OC-1 is found with reverse die states a and b. OC-1 is a rare die marriage. We've seen only 3 examples.

Photo credits:

Obverse 1: 1870 ANACS XF45, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse A: 1870 PCGS PR61 (mis-attributed as a proof by PCGS), from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.