Die states for 1817 bust half

OKbustchaser

Nothing better to do tonight, so I thought I’d put together a die study on the 1817 O-105 die marriage. This was the last use of obverse die 3-s2. (Used previously to strike the O-103a--the punctuated date die marriage in the die state with the dot removed).



In all there are four die states for this die marriage:

(1) No Obverse or Reverse die cracks (the O-105 Prime; Probably R7 per the Auction and Mail Bid Prices Realized (AMBPR)


Sadly, although I have seen one of the 6 or 7 known I don’t own one to show.


(2) Obverse die cracks only the O-105; probably R6 (13-30 examples) per the AMBPR

Note the crack at star 9 No die crack at date 

No die crack at top of OF

(3) the O-105a...Obverse and Reverse die cracks , R4- (150 to 200 examples)

Die crack at date just starts above 7 in date

Die crack above OF

(4) the O-105b...Full-blown Obverse and Reverse die cracks Probably R-4+ (76 to 125 examples)

Crack at Star 9 extends fully across Liberty's cap; crack at date extends to rim above Star 11

No difference from the above state.

jayPem

I love that die state!
I'd like to get a nice one one of these days..

lkeigwin

@OKbustchaser said:
Nothing better to do tonight, so I thought I’d put together a die study on the 1817 O-105 die marriage. This was the last use of obverse die 3-s2. (Used previously to strike the O-103a--the punctuated date die marriage in the die state with the dot removed).

In all there are four die states for this die marriage:

(1) No Obverse or Reverse die cracks (the O-105 Prime; Probably R7 per the Auction and Mail Bid Prices Realized (AMBPR).

Sadly, although I have seen one of the 6 or 7 known I don’t own one to show.

(2) Obverse die cracks only the O-105; probably R6 (13-30 examples) per the AMBPR.

Note the crack at star 9 No die crack at date. No die crack at top of OF.

(3) the O-105a...Obverse and Reverse die cracks , R4- (150 to 200 examples).

Die crack at date just starts above 7 in date. Die crack above OF

(4) the O-105b...Full-blown Obverse and Reverse die cracks Probably R-4+ (76 to 125 examples).

Crack at Star 9 extends fully across Liberty's cap; crack at date extends to rim above Star 11.

No difference from the above state.

This topic may be a little too esoteric for the forum. But a few of us will enjoy your thoughts and effort.

I love this die marriage. I stretched to buy this O.105a (or 105b, by your definition) at this past summer's ANA show. It has a wonderful pedigree.
Lance.

drddm

Certainly nowhere as nice as Lance’s amazing example, but I feel very fortunate to have one of these in PCGS AU (as described in die state 4 above).

Dave

pursuitofliberty

Do not have this DM (yet) but I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and studies here.