1860-O OC-1

1860-O OC-1

Die Pair	1 - 1859-O B
Date Grid	RE / 4-4.0 / VS up
Obverse Die States	a, c, d

Estimated Rarity	R1
1, 0 Vertical	VSL, C
Reverse Die States	b, c

Comments: This is the only use of Obverse 1 and the first of two uses of Reverse 1859-O B in 1860.
Reverse 1859-O B is transitional, first used to strike two die marriages in 1859.

Obverse 1
The photo below shows the Obverse 1 attribution grid.

1860-O Obverse 1 attribution grid

This obverse displays no major markers, but the date position should be enough to allow definitive attribution. It’s the farthest left of any of the 1860-O dates. Though similar to Obverse 2, the date is level, with a 1 that’s very slightly low; whereas Obverse 2 slants very slightly down, and the 1 is slightly high. A minor marker is noted by the arrow on the photo. A light line in the skirt, possibly an MPD or just a lint mark in the die, can be noted above the space between 60. This may aid in confirming the attribution.

Obverse 1 Die States

Perfect die.
Research after publication of the First Edition of this book determined that this die state doesn’t exist.
Heavy clash marks in Miss Liberty's lap.
Faint die cracks through the stars.

No later die states have been observed.

Reverse 1859-O B
The photo below shows the mintmark position for Reverse 1859-O B.

Reverse 1859-O B mintmark

Reverse 1859-O B exhibits several die lumps in the upper left shield recesses, shown in the following photo. The most notable is the small dot at the top of recess #1. This is visible on most mid- to high-grade examples, but it’s not a completely reliable marker. It can easily disappear if the lighting isn’t just right.

Reverse 1859-O B die markers

Other markers that can help attribution are die cracks around STATES OF. A radial crack extends from the rim, passing through the right side of T2 just right of the upright. A second crack almost completely surrounds the reverse at the base of the letters. Note that these cracks are seen on most but not all examples of OC-1. A few have been seen with an earlier die state of Reverse 1859-O B that hasn’t yet cracked. These early die state examples are rare. The die cracks are shown in the following photo.

Reverse 1859-O B state c diecracks

Reverse 1859-O B Die States

Perfect die.
Light die clash marks are visible in the shield recesses (OC-1 examples are rare).
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.
Die polished. The markers are less evident.

No later die states have been observed. OC-1 is found with reverse die states b and c. Early die state examples with reverse state b are rare.

Photo credits:

Obverse 1: 1860-O ANACS MS62, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse 1859-O B: 1859-O NGC MS60 CAC Gold, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.