1870 OC-4

1870 OC-4

Die Pair	4 - A
Date Grid	B / 4-3.5 / VS down
Obverse Die States	a

Estimated Rarity	R4+
1, 0 Vertical	SH, VSH
Reverse Die States	a

Comments: This is the first of two uses of Obverse 4 (the second use is a re-marriage of these same dies) and the first of ten uses of Reverse A (including two re-marriages).

Obverse 4
The photo below shows the Obverse 4 attribution grid.

1870 Obverse 4 attribution grid

Obverse 4 has a tiny lump in the unfinished area under the chin, shown in the photo below, that can aid in attribution.

1870 Obverse 4 lump under chin

Obverse 4 Die States

Perfect die.

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-4 is found only with reverse die state a. The re-marriage, OC-4a, exhibits later states.

Photo credits:

Obverse 4: 1870 NGC 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.