1870-CC OC-8
Top-30 Variety (with 60 degree die rotation)

Die Pair 2 - E
Date Grid JL of C / 4-4.5 / Level
Obverse Die States a
Estimated Rarity R4+
1, 0 Vertical SH, SH
Reverse Die States a, b



Comments:
   This is the fourth and final use of Obverse 2 and the only use of Reverse E in 1870.
Reverse E was subsequently used to strike all 1873-CC examples.


Obverse 2

The following photo shows the attribution lines for Obverse 2. This die is easy to identify since it’s the only obverse with the base of the 1 lining up left of centered.



1870-CC Obverse 2 attribution grid


Obverse 2 Die States
  1. Perfect die.
No later die states have been observed.


Reverse E

The following photo shows the attribution lines for
1870-CC Reverse E. Reverse E is the first of the two medium CC reverses. These can be difficult to differentiate. The second C is farther to the right on Reverse E, and thus closer to the stem. The Reverse E mintmarks are barely wider than Reverse F. The line from the feather tip to the upper right edge of the E in ONE passes through the upper serif of the first C for Reverse E, while on Reverse F it just grazes the right side of the serif.



1870-CC Reverse E attribution lines


Reverse E Die States
  1. Perfect die.
  2. Faint signs of die clashing. The most notable mark is a line extending from the tip of the upper leaf to the left wing.
Reverse E is seen only in the OC-8 die marriage. In late die states the dies began to rotate. In the latest state examples of this die marriage exhibit a 60 degree die rotation. We’ve included this end state as one of our
Top-30 varieties. We estimate its rarity as R5+. Our reference example of this rotation has a state b reverse. We haven’t determined which came first, the rotation or the clashing. It’s possible that the dies clashed, were removed for polishing, and began rotating when returned to the coining press.



Photo credits:

Obverse 2:   1870-CC PCGS AU55, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.
Reverse E:   1870-CC PCGS AU55 CAC, from the Osburn-Cushing reference collection.


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