1841 OC-4

1841 OC-4

Die Pair	2 - B
Date Grid	LE / 4-4.5 / Level
Obverse Die States	c

Estimated Rarity	R1
1, 1 Vertical	VSH, VSH
Reverse Die States	a, b

Comments: This is the second and final use of Obverse 2 and only use of Reverse B.

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 in the field under Miss Liberty's right arm. Die lines adjacent to stars 4 and 5 are still visible.
Polished die. Die lines near stars 4 and 5 are gone. 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-4 is found with obverse die states c and d. This die marriage is usually seen with a small counterclockwise die rotation of about 5 degrees.

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 B

1841 Reverse B features several die markers that should allow attribution of examples grading VF or better. The most notable is a die line in shield recesses 4 and 5. This and several other less notable markers are shown in the following photo.

Reverse B die markers

Note that the shield lines extensions which cross the first shield border at the bottom are different than those for Reverse A. The die line in shield recess 5 is the easiest marker to identify.

Reverse B Die States

Perfect die.
Polished die. Die lines are less notable. The heavy line crossing from recess 4 to recess 5 is still clearly visible.

OC-4 is found with both reverse die states. This die marriage is usually seen with a small counterclockwise die rotation of about 5 degrees.

Photo credits:

Obverse 2:   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.
Reverse B:   1841 NGC AU55, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.