1870 OC-8

1870 OC-8 Doubled Die Obverse

Die Pair	6 - A
Date Grid	JR of C / 5-1.0 / Level
Obverse Die States	a

Estimated Rarity	R6+
1, 0 Vertical	SH, C
Reverse Die States	b

Comments: This is the first of two uses of Obverse 6 and the fourth of ten uses of Reverse A.

Obverse 6
The photo below shows attribution grid for Obverse 6.

1870 Obverse 6 attribution grid
and die doubling on skirt hem

This obverse die is slightly doubled, visible on the top of the first two sets of vertical shield lines and on the hem of Miss Liberty’s gown. The hem line doubling can be seen in the photo above.

The Obverse 6 die is somewhat rusty, with rust pits in the die resulting in numerous light lumps on the coins struck. The most notable of these, on the gown near the pole, is shown in the following photo.

1870 Obverse 6 lump near pole

Obverse 6 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-8 is found only with reverse die state b.

Photo credits:

Obverse 6: 1870 PCGS MS61, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse A: 1870 PCGS PR61 (mis-attributed as a proof by PCGS), from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.