Definitive Reference For Indian Cent Die Varieties

DEFINITIVE REFERENCE FOR INDIAN CENT DIE VARIETIES

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1887 Variety 30


Obverse 35	Reverse AJ

Obverse Diagnostics

Date Position

Digit Punch Artifacts (Click Image To Enlarge)

Clash Marks In Front Of Eye

Reverse Diagnostics

Clash Marks Through (C)ENT (Click Image To Enlarge)

Reverse AJ Die Crack Mapping

Obverse 35 is observed with date placement at C and digit punch artifacts around the first and second 8 digits of the date. Obverse 35 has developed light to moderately heavy die flow lines and has acquired a clash mark in front of the eye of Miss Liberty from a clashing event with Reverse AJ.

Reverse AJ has developed heavy die flow lines and has acquired two sets of clash marks, one of which was from a clashing event with Obverse 35. Reverse AJ has developed the following die cracks:
1. Die crack from the rim at 8:00 into the olive leaves, where it splits downward into the olive leaves and upward through the left wreath.
2. Die crack from the denticles at 11:30 into the top left of the shield.

Comments: During late January 2020, Paul Nomes submitted the above plate coin for inclusion in this book based on the die cracking of Reverse AJ. Upon examination of Paul's coin, Obverse 35 exhibited digit punch artifacts around the first and second 8 of the date. Although these artifacts appear to be initial date impressions, they are in fact artifacts from the digit punch used to impress the date into Obverse 35 and appear on other 1887 obverses. One particular obverse that exhibits these artifacts is Obverse 12 from the 1887 Variety 7 Die Pairing.

Further examination of Paul's coin reveals differences in die state between Obverse 35 and Reverse AJ, where Obverse 35 has developed light to moderately heavy die flow lines and Reverse AJ has developed heavy die flow lines. This observation of the differing die states of Variety 30 indicates that Reverse AJ was in service prior to Variety 30. The following illustrates the difference in die state between Obverse 35 and Reverse AJ:

Obverse 35 Die Flow Lines (Click Image To Enlarge)

Reverse AJ Die Flow Lines (Click Image To Enlarge)

Plate Coin: Courtesy of Paul Nomes Collection, AU58