1841 OC-3

1841 OC-3

Die Pair	2 - 1840 A
Date Grid	LE / 4-4.5 / Level
Obverse Die States	a, b, c

Estimated Rarity	R1
1, 1 Vertical	VSH, VSH
Reverse Die States	c

Comments: This is the first use of Obverse 2 and the third and final use of Reverse 1840 A in 1841.
Reverse 1840 A is transitional, first used for 1840 die marriage OC-1.

Obverse 2
The photo below shows the Obverse 2 attribution grid.

1841 Obverse 2 attribution grid

Obverse 2 exhibits heavy die lines slanting down to the right above the leg, just left of the pole. These are pictured in the following photo.

1841 Obverse 2 die lines

Obverse 2 Die States

Perfect die. Die lines extend from the denticles adjacent to stars 4 and 5.
A sharp clash mark is visible in the field under Miss Liberty's right arm. Die lines adjacent to stars 4 and 5 are fading but still faintly visible.
Polished die. The die lines adjacent to stars 4 and 5 are gone and the clash mark is barely visible.
Light rim cuds below the date, from a point just left of the 1st 1 to a point between the last 1 and the toe.

No later obverse die states have been observed. OC-3 is found with obverse die states a, b, and c.

The photos which follow show the defining characteristics of the various die states.

1841 Obverse 2 - State a die lines from
denticles around stars 4-5

1841 Obverse 2 - State b clash marks under
right arm and die lines above the leg

1841 Obverse 2 - State d rim cuds

Reverse 1840 A

Reverse 1840 A is transitional, first used in the 1840 OC-1 die marriage. Minor die markers are visible on mid- to high-grade examples. The following photo shows these markers, extensions of the vertical shield lines above and below.

Reverse 1840 A die markers

Reverse 1840 A Die States

Perfect die. In this early state faint die lines are visible slanting down to the left from the denticles above IC. These will be visible only on high-grade coins, strong XF or better. This and the following die state aren't seen on either of the 1841 die marriages since the die clashed and was polished while being used in 1840.
Light clash marks in shield recesses.
Polished die. The light die lines above IC are no longer visible.

OC-3 is found only with reverse die state c. Both the die clashing and the polishing which removed the die lines occurred during the 1840 usage.

The photo below shows the clash marks which define states b and c of Reverse 1840 A.

Reverse 1840 A clash marks

Photo credits:

Obverse 2 and Reverse 1840 A:   1841 NGC AU55: from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Obverse 2, state a:   1841 PCGS Genuine AU details rims filed, from the Stacks-Bowers archives.
Obverse 2, state b:   1841 PCGS AU58, from the Stacks-Bowers archives.
Obverse 2, state d:   1841 PCGS AU50 OGH, from the Heritage archives.