1871 OC-7

Die Pair 6 - B
Date Grid JL of C / 4-4.0 / S up
Obverse Die States a
Estimated Rarity R2
1, 1 Vertical C, SH
Reverse Die States c, d



Comments:    This is the only use of Obverse 6 and the second of four uses of Reverse B (including one re-marriage).


Obverse 6

The photo below shows the Obverse 6 attribution grid.



1871 Obverse 6 attribution grid


Obverse 6 exhibits several die markers visible on mid- to high-grade coins. A large die lump is seen on the gown just right of the bottom of the Y in LIBERTY. Additional die lumps are visible between the legs. The following photos show these features:



1871 Obverse 6 die lump right of Y




1871 Obverse 6 die lump between legs



Obverse 6 Die States
  1. Perfect die.
No later die states have been observed.


Reverse B

1871 Reverse B features two notable die lines, pictured in the next two photos, that allow quick identification of mid- to high-grade examples. Note that these die lines are much weaker on state c of the reverse due to die polish.



1871 Reverse B die line near eagle's beak




1871 Reverse B die line in fold under TRUST


Reverse B Die States
  1. Perfect die.
  2. A faint die crack joins the top of TES. The die line from the eagle's beak is sharply defined, completely visible.
  3. The reverse die hs been polished. The die crack is no longer visible. The die line from the eagle's beak is much weaker, barely visible in the field between the beak and the scroll.
  4. The die line from the eagle's beak is weaker, completely gone from the field, weak on the shield, only visible under the top loop of the D in GOD.
No later die states have been observed. OC-7 has been found only with reverse die states c and d. OC-7 is frequently seen with rotated dies, up to 10 degrees.



Photo credits:

Obverse 6:   1871 NGC MS61, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse B:   1871 NGC AU55, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.


Copyright © 2015-2021, by Dick Osburn and Brian Cushing, All rights reserved.