Definitive Reference For Indian Cent Die Varieties

DEFINITIVE REFERENCE FOR INDIAN CENT DIE VARIETIES

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The Two Usages Of 1892 Reverse I And What This May Imply About The 1892 Variety 7 Die Pairing (02/17/22)

1892 Reverse I was initially in service paired with Obverse 9 during the 1892 Variety 7 Die Pairing. Obverse 9 of this die pairing had developed a die break in front of the forehead of Miss Liberty and was given the moniker 'Jeweled Forehead'.

During its second usage, an incrementally later die state of Reverse I is paired with Obverse 25 during the 1892 Variety 23 Die Pairing. This second usage of Reverse I may indicate that Obverse 9 was retired from service due to the break it sustained during the Variety 7 Die Pairing. This earlier than expected retirement of Obverse 9 would render all remaining examples struck by Variety 7 much scarcer to locate.

The Multiple Initial Date Impressions Of 1907 Obverse 39 (01/15/21)

While publishing the Variety 37 Die Pairing, which is a previously identified die pairing, I was able to determine that Obverse 39 received four initial date impressons prior to the final date impression and not the single initial date impression that was initially identified. The first initial date impression was positioned slightly to the southwest with respect to the final date placement, with the initial date impression to be found within the 0. The second initial date impression was positioned far to the southwest with respect to the final date placement, with the initial date impression to be found just below the upper loop of the 9. The third and fourth initial date impressions were positioned far to the southeast with respect to the final date placement, with the initial date impressions to be found at the center and lower section of the lower loop of the 9.

The following tables illustrate the Obverse 39 Repunched Digits and The Initial Date Impressions Of The 9:

9 (Click image To Enlarge)

0 (Click Image To Enlarge)

(Click Image To Enalrge)

(Click Image To Enlarge)

The Rim Breakage Progression Of 1865 Reverse AAF (10/15/20)

Reverse AAF was initially in service during the 1865 Fancy 5 Variety 37 Die Pairing and subsequently in service during the 1865 Fancy 5 Variety 38 Die Pairing. Reverse AAF develops die subsidence at 5:00 and will develop rim breakage between 11:00 and 1:00 throughout its service during Variety 37. While in its initial service during the Variety 37 Die Pairing, Reverse AAF will first develop a rim break between 12:15 and 1:00, then develop a second rim break between 11:00 and 11:45 during a subsequent Reverse AAF die state and Reverse AAF will develop a third rim break between 11:45 and 12:15. The following illustrates the rim breakage progression of 1865 Reverse AAF:

Reverse AAF Rim Break

Reverse AAF.2 Rim Breaks

Reverse AAF.3 Rim Breaks

1892 Variety 4: The Class II Doubled Die Pairing (12/27/17)

The 1892 Variety 4 die pairing, which is comprised of Obverse 7 and Reverse G, exhibits Class II hub doubling on both obverse and reverse. The doubling on Obverse 7 is predominantly found on the upper half of the die on 'ED STATES OF AMER', while Reverse G features doubling on the right wreath veins.

Class II hub doubling is created by different diameters of either working die or working hub. Since both working dies and working hubs were created utilizing annealing in between hubbings, there was a possibility that the working hub or working die would not return to its original diameter during subsequent contraction. As a result, misalignments would occur on images around the rim during the hubbing of the working die and working hub. Doubling towards the center would indicate a working die that did not contract to its original diameter prior to being heated during annealing, whereas doubling towards the rim would indicate a working hub that was more exapnded than the working die that was being impressed by it. It should be noted that there was no guarantee that a working die would be assigned to the same working hub that was initially used to hub that working die; therefore, a different and more expanded working hub could have been paired with the working die in the hubbing chamber.

Class II hub doubling was possible due to multiple hubbings and annealings of a working die prior to the advent of the single-squeeze hubbing process that was employed during 1986.

Obverse 7 Class II Hub Doubling

Reverse G Class II Hub Doubling

1869 Reverse J and the Birth of a Cud (11/2/17)

1869 Reverse J, which was paired with Obverse 10 during the Variety 9 die pairing, illustrates an educational insight into the process of a working die developing a cud. The following incremental die states of Reverse J capture the progress of the initial Reverse J die crack between 4:45 and 6:30 into a retained break and finally, a full cud formed from the absence of the retained break and the subsequent flow of metal into the void left behind by the retained break. The most educational incremental die state of Reverse J is the Reverse J.2 die state. If the Reverse J.3 retaind cud was not previously known, the Reverse J.2 die state could easily be confused with a retained break due to the raised nature of the section between 4:45 and 6:30.

Die states such as Reverse J.2 are erroneously identified as a genuine retained cud by many sources. Care must be taken to accuarately attribute a die state as a cud, otherwise misinformation becomes a problem for collectors of die cuds.

Reverse J Die Cracking Between 4:45 and 6:30

Reverse J.2 Die Cracking Between 4:45 and 6:30

Reverse J.3 Retained Cud Between 4:45 and 6:30

Reverse J.4 Cud Between 4:45 and 6:30

Collecting in the AU58 Grade Level (05/23/17)

The AU58 grade level equates to the highest grade a circulated coin may grade, with only a trace of wear preventing the coin from grading mint state. An accurately graded AU58 will look like an MS63, MS64 or even an MS65, but at a fraction of the price of these mint state grades. Because of the price and the eye appeal of an accurately graded AU58 coin, many collectors will invest in the AU58 grade level. Patience and attention to quality will produce an outstanding collection that rivals that of choice mint state collections.

Evaluating quality for AU58 coins should be a priority for an outstanding collection and the astute collector will adhere to the following:
1. Strike: Search out well struck coins. A below average struck coin is not eye appealing.
2. Surfaces: Avoid late die states that leave the surfaces textured and design features distorted due to die erosion. Similarly, avoid coins with large stains or carbon spots.
3. Marks: Marks should be minimal for the AU58 grade level. Large marks or too many marks should be avoided for this grade level.
4. Luster: Luster should be vey good to excellent, with only small to medium breaks in luster on the high points of the design.
5. Eye Appeal: If the above four conditions have been met, then the eye appeal should be above average or exemplary for the AU58 grade. An eye appealing AU58 graded coin will be an appealing coin with no distractions to detract from this eye appeal.

To conclude this blog entry, I have taken the liberty of showcasing an accurately graded AU58 1902 indian cent that resides in the Sale List of the web book. This coin exhibits a 40% red reverse and aheres to the conditions listed above for securing a quality investment grade AU58 coin.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

1864 Reverse AAL And Why Rim To Rim Die Cracks Should not Be Termed Cuds (05/06/17)

1864 Reverse AAL, which was paired with Obverse 35 during the Copper Nickel Variety 12 die pairing, develops a rim to rim die crack between 3:15 and 5:00 that a couple internet sources incorrectly term a cud. In reality, the Reverse AAL die crack is just that...a die crack. During the subsequent Reverse AAL.2 incremental die state, a retained cud forms from the area defined by the die crack. The following compare the two Reverse AAL die states and clearly illustrate the importance of accurately attributing a die cud in order to eliminate the proliferation of false information:

Reverse AAL Die Crack

Reverse AAL.2 Retained Cud

1860 Type I Cents (8/15/15)

I received an inquiry regarding an 1860 Type I indian cent I have listed in my price list. The question was "Isn't that a type II round bust?" I responded that it was indeed the type I and I referred the emailer to the 1860 varieites page of the web book, where the differences are outlined.

The bust shape is the initial diagnostic that is looked for when determining an 1860 cent is a type I or type II. 1860 type I indian cents were minted from working die from 1859, that is why they have a pointed bust. The bust point will point at the U of UNITED on type I 1860 cents, whereas the type II bust point will point between the U of UNITED and the date. In addition, the bust point of the type II cents is more rounded in comparison to the pointed bust.

Though it isn't present on all examples, the R of AMERICA will be broken at the top on 1860 type I obverses and the 1860 type II obverses will be broken at the tops of ES of STATES. The broken letters are a result of being broken on the working hubs. The broken letter(s) of the working hub get transferred to the working die when the working hub impresses its image on the working die. The working die, with its broken letter(s), transfers its image to the coin. The reason why some 1860 type I and type II cents do not exhibit broken letters is because the working dies that struck them were hubbed from working hubs with intact letters.

The following is a comparison of the 1860 type I obverse (left) and the 1860 type II (right). Note the broken R of AMERICA on the type I and the broken E of STATES on the type II.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

The 1860 type I indian cent is much scarcer than its type II counterpart and is actively sought after. Collectors wll try and acquire both obverse types of 1860 in order to construct a complete date set of indian cents.

Buy The Coin, Not The Slab (8/11/15)

The title of today's blog entry is certainly good advice, as there may be vast differences in quality within the span of a particular grade. Regardless of a coin having been graded by a third party grading firm, collectors should evaluate the coin on its own merits and not what the grade at the top of the holder indicates.

One memorable experience I had occurred a couple years ago at a monthly coin show in Nashua, NH. I was drawn to the date repunching on an 1899 indian cent encased in one of the top three grading slabs with a grade of MS64BN. Upon evaluating the coin, I noticed some obvious wear on the high points. The coin was an AU58 in a MS64BN holder! How does this happen? Well happened it did and I obviously passed on the coin.

Cuds (8/9/15)

I thought I might start my first blog on the subject of cuds, considering that I see the term cud incorrectly used all too often. The word cud has been used to describe die chips, rim breaks and yes, even die cracks!

In reality, cuds are formed by a break on a working die defined by an area from the edge of the die and some area associated with the face of the die. These breaks occur as a result of a portion of the die becoming separated from the die has a whole. These breaks are usually seen as raised areas on the coin surface where a void has formed on the die due to the loss of that portion of die. Since the die has a void in this area, it will be raised on the resulting minted coin because of metal flowing into the die and filling the void formed from the break. Certain die states will show these cuds with full detail because the separated piece of the die is still retained

The following illustrates a retained cud:

So, how do we determine if the area defined by a rim to rim crack is a cud or not? The answer is quite simple: if there is a height difference between the cud area and the rest of the coin, then we may safely conclude a cud has formed. Many collectors, or dealers for that matter, will quickly call any area defined by a rim to rim crack as a cud. If there is no appreciable height difference between the cud area and the reamining coin area, then it is merely a die crack.