Notes and Die States
Also Breen 6506; third head; large date.
The coin illustrated is a composite generated from a 2C obverse and a 1D reverse.
Krauss die states
Information provided below is from the article by Eric Krauss in the December 2017 issue of the JRCS journal (v.27, issue 3, 25-37).
Obverse:
- state i: Perfect dies.
- state ii: Heavily lapped, with digit 8 in the date scarcely visible. The 8 was weakly impressed on both proofs
and business strikes, and after lapping it is scarcely visible. The remaining digits are thinner, especially the upstroke of the
5, and the 3 has lost the center spur. The denticles are weak, particularly from 4:00 to 9:00 o'clock. The stars are thin, more plainly revealing the
repunching of star 7. The portrait loses detail along the margins.
- state iii: Terminal die state. Bisecting obverse die crack extending from the rim between stars 5 and 6
across the field to the ribbon, through LIBERTY and the hair curls at right, reaching the rim between stars 12 and 13. A second crack runs from the
hair curl just in front of the ear leftward across the cheek to the tip of the nose. A third, fainter crack extends from the same point of origin
northwest at a 15° angle to the second crack, towards the eye.
Reverse (see description of McCloskey 2-C for states ii to iii of the reverse die):
- state iv: Internal cracks in first and second S in STATES and the first A and M in AMERICA. D is repunched;
second S in STATES is repunched. Right wing tip is reengraved. Cracks from both wing tips to denticles and to the A in AMERICA. Hairline crack in right angle
of N in UNITED.
- state v: Reverse used on McCloskey 2-A (1834).
- state vi: Internal cud in lower right angle of N in UNITED; die lumps by U and E in same. Upper olive stem is reengraved.
On the highest grade survivors, metal within the lower half of the right angle of the N protrudes above the surface of the coin, reflecting the depth of the
die chip. With circulation the extra metal wears flat, and in grades XF or lower, the right angle of the N simply appears half-filled in.
Known die states:
- Obv-state i + Rev state iv
- Obv-state ii + Rev state vi
- Obv-state iii + Rev state vi
