1859-O OC-3

Die Pair 2 - B
Date Grid R QTR / 4-4.5 / Level
Obverse Die States a, b
Estimated Rarity R2
1, 9 Vertical SH, SH
Reverse Die States b



Comments:    This is the only use of Obverse 2 and the second and final use of Reverse B in 1859.
Reverse B is transitional, used for two additional 1860-O die marriages.


Obverse 2

The photo below shows the Obverse 2 attribution grid.



1859-O Obverse 2 attribution grid


The Obverse 2 date is the farthest right of any for the year. An additional die marker is a tiny lump on the hem of the gown above the 8. The arrow in the photo points to this feature.

Obverse 2 Die States
  1. Perfect die.
  2. Light clash marks left of the pole base and between the legs.
No later die states have been observed. Examples exhibiting the state b obverse are rare. I've only seen two.


Reverse B

The photo below shows the mintmark position for Reverse B.



1859-O Reverse B mintmark

Reverse B exhibits several irregularities in the upper left shield recesses, shown below. The most notable and easiest to see is the strong dot at the top of Recess #1. This dot becomes less notable as the die state progresses, but is always visible.



1859-O Reverse B die markers

Reverse B Die States
  1. Perfect die.
  2. Light die clash marks are visible in the shield recesses.
  3. A light radial die crack passes through the right side of T2. Light die cracks surround much of the reverse at the base of the letters.
  4. Die polished. The markers are less evident.
The die cracks are shown in the following photo. The die cracked during its usage in 1860, so these cracks aren't seen on coins dated 1859-O. OC-3 is found only with reverse die state b.



1859-O Reverse B state c diecracks




Photo credits:

Obverse 2:   1859-O PCGS MS63, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse B:   1859-O NGC MS60 CAC Gold, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.


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