1870 OC-9

1870 OC-9

Die Pair	7 - A
Date Grid	B / 5-3.5 / Level
Obverse Die States	a

Estimated Rarity	R4-
1, 0 Vertical	H, H
Reverse Die States	d, e

Comments: This is the only use of Obverse 7 and the sixth of ten uses of Reverse A.

Obverse 7
The photo below shows the Obverse 7 attribution grid.

1870 Obverse 7 attribution grid

The Obverse 7 date is the farthest right of any seen in 1870. OC-9 die marriage is scarce but not rare. However, we’ve not been able to personally examine an example, so we’ve been unable to identify any markers. Hopefully we’ll find one in the future and add more detail to this description.
Obverse 7 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-9 is found only with reverse die states d and e. Die state e examples are very rare.

Photo credits:

Obverse 7: 1870 NGC AU58, from the Heritage archives.
Reverse A: 1870 PCGS PR61 (mis-attributed as a proof by PCGS), from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.