Comments:
   This is the only use of Obverse 4 and the fourth of five uses of Reverse A.
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Obverse 4
The photo below shows the Obverse 4 attribution grid.
1871 Obverse 4 attribution grid
Obverse 4 is easy to attribute because its date is the farthest right of any 1871 obverse die.
In fact, it's the farthest right of any in the series.
Obverse 4 Die States
- Perfect die.
No later die states have been observed.
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Reverse A
1871 Reverse A was the workhorse die for the year, paired with 5 different obverse dies. It features two minor
but notable die markers that allow easy identification for any coin grading a strong F or better. A small die
line curls up to the right off the lower right base of the first T in TRUST. A small lump is attached to the
lower edge of the D in GOD. The photo below shows these markers. The die line may not be clearly visible in
photos. It depends on the lighting and the condition of the coin being viewed. The lump can almost always be
seen, even on very low-grade coins.
1871 Reverse A die markers
Reverse A Die States
- Perfect die.
- A faint die crack crosses the top of ERICA.
- A faint die crack crosses the top of TES. The crack above ERICA has now extended across M.
- The die crack across the top of TES now extends across the top of OF.
OC-4 has been observed only with reverse die state c. OC-4 is a very rare die marriage. We found only
4 examples out of nearly 1200 coins examined from the Heritage archives, plus one other located in dealer
inventory at the 2012 spring Baltimore Coin Show.
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