General Comments
1843 is a common date in the Liberty Seated dollar series, with a mintage ranking of 36th out of 46.
Examples are easy to locate in virtually any grade desired. They only become rare in choice to
gem BU, MS63 or better.
The finest known business strikes are two MS64+ coins graded by PCGS. 11 additional coins have been
graded MS64, 4 by PCGS and 7 by NGC. Twenty-five have been graded MS63. With no coins graded MS65
it’s safe to assume that several individuals have tried for upgrades, and a few re-submissions are
represented in these statistics. A total of 112 coins have been graded in all mint state grades.
Population statistics are as of January, 2019.
In proof format, this date is a significant rarity. The finest known proofs are four PR64 examples,
one graded by PCGS, three by NGC. Nine additional coins have been graded in lower proof grades,
seven in PR63, three at lower levels. The lowest of these is PR53. One of the PR63 coins graded
by PCGS was given a cameo designation. A few of the PR63's and PR64’s listed in the population
reports almost certainly represent re-submissions.
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Mintage | 165,100 |
Proof mintage | 25 estimated |
Mintage ranking | 36th |
Finest known | MS64 PR64 Cameo |
Known obverse dies | 2 |
Known reverse dies | 4 |
Known die marriages | 4 |
Most common die marriage | OC-1/ R1 OC-2/ R1 |
Rarest business strike die marriage | OC-3/ R2 |
Rarest proof die marriage | OC-P1 / R6+ |
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1843 examples are usually well struck, occasionally displaying very slight softness on the star centrals
and/or the upper left wing feathers. High-grade business strikes are sometimes prooflike or semi-prooflike,
but more often frosty. With high mintage, only three business strike die pairings, and only one business
strike obverse die, the dies wore sufficiently to eliminate prooflike surfaces for most examples. However,
the obverse die was polished several times, and subsequent strikings are often prooflike.
1843 Die Marriages
The following table summarizes known die marriages for 1843.
Click the links below to view the details of each die marriage.
Die Marriage |
Rarity |
Obverse Die |
Reverse Die |
Estimated Survivors |
OC-1 | R1 | 1 | 1842 A | 2600 |
OC-2 | R1 | 1 | A | 1550 |
OC-3 | R2 | 1 | B | 850 |
OC-P1 | R6+ | P1 | 1840 PA | 15 |
OC-1, OC-2, and OC-3 are the only known business strike die marriages. They share the same obverse die.
This die exhibits light repunching on the 4, visible below the crossbar. None of the marriages are
particularly rare. All three are normally seen with light clash marks. The clashing is most visible
in the field under Miss Liberty’s right arm. Examples with unclashed dies are scarce but can be
located with patient searching.
Breen lists two varieties, Heavy Date (Breen 5429), and Thin Numerals (Breen 5430).
Since only a single obverse die was used we believe that these two varieties are simply die states, not
true varieties.
OC-P1 is the only proof die marriage. Of the 15 or so estimated survivors one is lightly circulated.
15 additional coins are listed on the PCGS and NGC population reports, varying from PR62 to PR64.
A few of these almost certainly represent re-submissions. The finest known are four PR64 examples,
one graded by PCGS, three by NGC.
1843 Business Strike Emission Sequence
The emission sequence can be determined by the reduction in the unfinished area under the chin as the mintage progresses from OC-1 through OC-3.
Emission Order |
Die Marriage |
Comments |
1 | OC-1 | |
2 | OC-2 | Reduction in the unfinished area under the chin
indicates that OC-2 follows OC-1. |
3 | OC-3 | Additional reduction in the unfinished area under the chin indicates that OC-3 follows OC-2. |
1843 Proof Emission Sequence
With only a single die marriage the proof sequence is simple.
Emission Order |
Die Marriage |
Comments |
1 | OC-P1 | |
1843 Quick Finder Chart
Attribution of 1843 die marriages is straightforward. However, with all three business strike die marriages sharing the same
obverse die conclusive attribution may not be possible for low-grade examples.
Die Marriage |
Obv Die |
Rev Die |
Right Base of 1 |
1 Verticle |
Grid |
Keys to Identification |
OC-1 | 1 | 1842 A | R QTR | SH | 5-2.0 |
Obverse:   Date right. Grid = 5-3.0.
Reverse:   3 parallel die lines slant slightly down in upper left shield recess.
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OC-2 | 1 | A | R QTR | SH | 5-2.0 |
Obverse:   Date right. Grid = 5-3.0.
Reverse:   Numerous die lines slant very slightly down in the upper part of shield recesses 1, 2, and 3, most visible in recess #1.
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OC-3 | 1 | B | R QTR | SH | 5-2.0 |
Obverse:   Date right. Grid = 5-3.0.
Reverse:   Many haywire die lines in the shield recesses. A long line near the top of the recesses is the most notable, slanting slightly up across recesses 1, 2, and 3.
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OC-P1 | P1 | 1840 PA | R QTR | VSH | 4-3.5 |
Obverse:   Date left. Grid = 4-3.5. Light die lines near the left tip of the ribbon.
Reverse:   Defects on A3.
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Photo credits:
Obverse and reverse full photos:   1843 NGC PR64, ex. Gene Gardner, from the Heritage archives.
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