1870 OC-3a

Die Pair 3 - A
Date Grid JR of C / 4-5.0 / Level
Obverse Die States b
Estimated Rarity R5-
1, 0 Vertical H, SH
Reverse Die States f



Comments:    This is the second of two uses of Obverse 3 (the first use is a re-marriage of these same dies) and the last of ten uses of Reverse A (including 2 re-marriages).


Obverse 3

The photo below shows the Obverse 3 attribution grid.



1870 Obverse 3 attribution grid


Obverse 3 in this second usage is identified by the large lump in Miss Liberty’s lap which has obliterated the small lump seen in the previous usage. This lump is shown in the following photo.



1870 Obverse 3 - Die state b
Large die lump in lap


Obverse 3 Die States
  1. Perfect die. The die lump is small.
  2. Huge lump on the leg. This lump, shown in the photo above, has obliterated the small lump (rare die state).
No later die states have been observed. OC-3a is found only with obverse die state b. Obverse die state a is seen only on the re-marriage, OC-3.

Our example of OC-3a exhibits die rotation of about 8 degrees counterclockwise. We believe that this rotation occurred when the dies were reused to create the re-marriage. Examples of OC-3 normally exhibit virtually no die rotation.

This re-marriage is rare. We’ve seen less than 10 examples.


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
  1. Perfect die.
  2. Very light clashing in shield recesses.
  3. Die crack across the top of UNITED.
  4. The die crack now extends across the top of STATES.
  5. A faint die crack crosses the top of AMERICA.
  6. 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-3 is found with reverse die states b, c, and d. This die marriage is often found with a very weak strike, particularly on the obverse stars.



Photo credits:

Obverse 3 date and state a:   1870 NGC AU58, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Obverse 3 state b:   1870 PCGS #81183554 AU50, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse A:   1870 PCGS PR61 (mis-attributed as a proof by PCGS), from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.


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