Definitive Reference For Indian Cent Die Varieties

DEFINITIVE REFERENCE FOR INDIAN CENT DIE VARIETIES

Home
Table of Contents
For Sale List
Numismatic Links
David's Numismatic Blog

1863 Variety 18


Obverse 18	Reverse T

Obverse Diagnostics

Date Position

Possible Repunched 8 to the North

Off-Center Clash Marks

Die Crack from 11:30

Reverse Diagnostics

Die Crack from 2:45

Die Crack from 10:45

Rev. T.2 Partial Cud Between 9:00 and 10:45

Rev. T.2 Cracks and Break Between 9:00 and 9:30

Rev. T.3 Retained Break (Click Image To Enlarge)

Reverse T.2 Die Crack Mapping

Obverse 18 is identified by date placement at LH, off-center clash marks on the neck of Miss Liberty and possible repunched 8 to the north. Obverse 18 develops rim breaks between 9:00 and 11:30 and the following die cracks:
1. Die crack from the denticles at 6:30 connecting the bases of the 18 of the date and exiting at 6:00.
2. Die crack from the denticles at 11:30 connecting the tops of TE of STATES.

Reverse T is rotated 9 degrees clockwise. Reverse T develops the following die cracks:
1. Die crack from the denticles at 2:45 down through the wreath to the oak leaf above the middle arrowhead.
2. Die crack from the rim at 10:45 down through the wreath.
Rev. T.2: The die crack from 10:45, which has now extended downward through the left wreath to the denticles at 9:00, has become more severe and the area between 9:00 and 10:45 is now a partial cud. In addition, a heavy die crack from the rim at 9:15 has formed a small break in the field outside the wreath and a die crack from the rim at 9:30 extends into the wreath.
Rev. T.3: Reverse T is rotated 12 degrees clockwise and has now sustained a retained break between 9:00 and 1045.

Comments: The off-center clash marks of obverse 18 are most likely the denticles of another working die making contact with obverse 18 during its annealed state. The prevailing theory is that the edge of a working die was impressed into an annealed working die as a hardness test for subsequent hubbings from a working hub.

During mid January 2019, Rick Snow discovered Reverse T in its latest die state, with a partial cud developing between 9:00 and 10:45. Although Rick has indicated that the section between 9:00 and 10:45 is a retained cud, this section is a partial cud since it has not completely separated from the die body. A subsequent Reverse T die state with a complete break between 9:00 and 10:45 is imminent and should occur in short order based on the severity of the Reverse T.2 die state.

During late May 2026, John Grimmer submitted the Variety 18b Plate Coin, which represents the latest Reverse T die state with Reverse T sustaining a retained break. The Variety 18b Plate Coin exhibits a 12 degree die rotation. I suspect the 12 degree rotation represents a static rotational attribute of the Variety 18 Die Pairing and not the 9 degrees of rotation measured from the Variety 18 and 18a Plate Coins since they were not aligned correctly during rotation measurements.

Plate Coin (Variety 18): Courtesy of Craig McClain Collection, AU50
Plate Coin (Variety 18a): Images Courtesy of Rick Snow of Eagle Eye Rare Coins, PCGS MS64 (PS)
PLate Coin (Variety 18b): Courtesy of John Grimmer Collection, G6

Die States For 1863 Variety 18

VARIETY 18 OBVERSE 18 REVERSE T
VARIETY 18a OBVERSE 18 REVERSE T.2
VARIETY 18b OBVERSE 18 REVERSE T.3