1870 OC-P1

1870 OC-P1 Original Proof Doubled Die Reverse

Die Pair	P1 - 1869 PA
Date Grid	LE / 5-3.0 / VS up
Obverse Die States	a

Estimated Rarity	R3-
1, 0 Vertical	H, H
Reverse Die States	a

Comments: This is the first of four uses of Obverse P1 (the fourth use struck business strikes) and the only use of Reverse 1869 PA in 1870. Reverse 1869 PA is transitional, used previously in 1869 to strike 1869 OC-P2 and OC-P3.

Obverse P1
The photo below shows the Obverse P1 attribution grid.

1870 Obverse P1 attribution grid

This obverse displays a light curving die line extending off the lower end of the upper ribbon, shown below.

1870 Obverse P1 die line below ribbon

Obverse P1 Die States

Perfect die.
light die clashing visible under the rock.

No later die states have been observed. State b has only been seen on a single coin. It’s apparently very rare. The clashing probably ended the run of this die pairing.

Reverse 1869 PA
Reverse 1869 PA has no obvious markers, but it does display minor die doubling that’s visible on the left side of the motto and on the adjacent elements. This doubling is indicated by the arrows in the photo below.

Reverse 1869 PA die doubling

The areas around the leaves are almost completely finished on this reverse, whereas the other two reverse dies used for proofs in 1870 show significant unfinished areas around the leaves.

Reverse 1869 PA Die States

Perfect die.

No later die states have been observed. This die marriage has been seen with die rotations of up to 20 degrees. The rotated die examples don't seem to be particularly rare.

Photo credits:

Obverse P1: 1870 NGC Proof details, cleaned, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse 1869 PA: 1869 PCGS PR63, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.