1840 OC-P1

1840 OC-P1 Original Proof

Die Pair	P1 - PA
Date Grid	RE / 5-1.0 / VS down
Obverse Die States	a, b

Estimated Rarity	R6
1, 0 Vertical	H, SH
Reverse Die States	a

Comments: This is the first or second use of Obverse P1 and the first of two uses of Reverse PA in 1840. Obverse P1 was reported by Breen in a second die marriage, but I haven’t confirmed this use. Reverse PA was later used to strike most original proof issues from 1841 through 1854.

Obverse P1
The photo below shows the Obverse P1 attribution grid. Obverse P1 can be uniquely identified by its date position, high in the field and slanting very slightly down.

1840 Obverse P1 attribution grid

Obverse P1 vs P2
Obverses P1 and P2 have almost identical date positions. P1 shows much smaller unfinished areas. The following photo contrasts the unfinished areas under Miss Liberty’s chin.

Obverse P1 vs P2 Unfinished Area

Obverse P1 Die States

Perfect die.
A faint die crack extends left into the field from the upper point of star 12.

No later die states have been observed. All examples of this die marriage that I’ve examined have exhibited obverse die state b. I assume that the earlier die state should exist.

Reverse PA
Reverse 1840 PA is the same die used for almost all original proof issues from 1840 through 1854. The die exhibits unique features on A3. The following photo shows these die markers, possibly created from die rust or just die crumbling due to imperfect die metal. These allow easy identification of the proof die, even on mishandled or lightly circulated examples.

Reverse PA die markers

Reverse PA Die States

Perfect die.

No later die states have been observed.

Photo credits:

Obverse P1: 1840 NGC PR61, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse 1840 PA: 1846 PCGS PR58, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.