Ongoing analysis of 1876 and 1877 Obverse designs changes on US silver and gold coins
oreville
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Take a look at these two 1876 Trade dollars obverses. The first one is a type I obverse and the second is a type II obverse. Notice how the date in type two is further apart from the device.
Keoj adds: "There are actually 8 different Type I/II obverse and reverse combinations for the 1876 trade dollar as follows:
1876 Type I/I, Type I/II, Type II,II
1876-CC Type I/I, Type I/II
1876-S Type I/I, Type I/II, Type II,II
An that's just the easy level. There are actually Type IIM and Type IIL (M=middle and L=late) combos as well for obverses and reverses. These are a lot more subtle but are different master hubs " in the year 1876 alone.
Then take a look at the 1876 Liberty (Coronet) Double Eagle $20 type II (1866-1876) which has the same obverse as the type I $20 Liberties(1849-1865)
and is vastly different than the more "modernistic" thinner, yet more muscular looking $20 Liberty of 1877. Such 1877 $20 is part of the type III Liberties (1877-1907).
Also note that the $20 Liberty device of 1877 is significantly smaller than in 1876 and prior years. Such design change has hardly been mentioned in
numismatic literature since they focused only on the change from the type II reverse of TWENTY D to the type III reverse of TWENTY DOLLARS.
Walter Breen in his Encyclopedia of US Coins did mention that William Barber, chief engraver of the US Mint did a little "niggling" of the obverse in 1877.
Such reduction in the size of the obverse device reminds us of the modern era shrinking of the President Abraham Lincoln and JFK portraits in the lincoln cents and
Kennedy half dollars during the past ten years.
Furthermore, the date of 1877 is further apart from the rim as well as the device. See how far the last digit is from the back of Liberty's hair in 1877 versus 1876.
The date also appears to be slightly smaller.
It is becoming apparent that the US Mint was very actively toying around with the designs of the obverse during 1876 and 1877 not to mention the more well known reverse changes!
More analysis and examples will follow.
TYPE 1 OBVERSE
TYPE II OBVERSE
TYPE II $20 LIBERTY (1866-1876), This is the 1876 Liberty, the last year of the Type II's. Note how Liberty's head seems tilted back.
The hair style is more "classic" and ornate than in succeeding years.
TYPE III $20 LIBERTY (1877-1907). This is the 1877 Liberty, the first year of the Type III's. Also observe how the head of Liberty is more upright
than in previous years. The stars also further away from the rim and Liberty's cap is now higher up and between the stars.
This created more open field area around the date.
Keoj adds: "There are actually 8 different Type I/II obverse and reverse combinations for the 1876 trade dollar as follows:
1876 Type I/I, Type I/II, Type II,II
1876-CC Type I/I, Type I/II
1876-S Type I/I, Type I/II, Type II,II
An that's just the easy level. There are actually Type IIM and Type IIL (M=middle and L=late) combos as well for obverses and reverses. These are a lot more subtle but are different master hubs " in the year 1876 alone.
Then take a look at the 1876 Liberty (Coronet) Double Eagle $20 type II (1866-1876) which has the same obverse as the type I $20 Liberties(1849-1865)
and is vastly different than the more "modernistic" thinner, yet more muscular looking $20 Liberty of 1877. Such 1877 $20 is part of the type III Liberties (1877-1907).
Also note that the $20 Liberty device of 1877 is significantly smaller than in 1876 and prior years. Such design change has hardly been mentioned in
numismatic literature since they focused only on the change from the type II reverse of TWENTY D to the type III reverse of TWENTY DOLLARS.
Walter Breen in his Encyclopedia of US Coins did mention that William Barber, chief engraver of the US Mint did a little "niggling" of the obverse in 1877.
Such reduction in the size of the obverse device reminds us of the modern era shrinking of the President Abraham Lincoln and JFK portraits in the lincoln cents and
Kennedy half dollars during the past ten years.
Furthermore, the date of 1877 is further apart from the rim as well as the device. See how far the last digit is from the back of Liberty's hair in 1877 versus 1876.
The date also appears to be slightly smaller.
It is becoming apparent that the US Mint was very actively toying around with the designs of the obverse during 1876 and 1877 not to mention the more well known reverse changes!
More analysis and examples will follow.
TYPE 1 OBVERSE
TYPE II OBVERSE
TYPE II $20 LIBERTY (1866-1876), This is the 1876 Liberty, the last year of the Type II's. Note how Liberty's head seems tilted back.
The hair style is more "classic" and ornate than in succeeding years.
TYPE III $20 LIBERTY (1877-1907). This is the 1877 Liberty, the first year of the Type III's. Also observe how the head of Liberty is more upright
than in previous years. The stars also further away from the rim and Liberty's cap is now higher up and between the stars.
This created more open field area around the date.
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Comments
mojo
-Jim Morrison-
Mr. Mojorizn
my blog:www.numistories.com
To take it just a step further, just in 1876 for Trade Dollars, there are 8 different Type I/II obverse and reverse combinations.
1876 Type I/I, Type I/II, Type II,II
1876-CC Type I/I, Type I/II
1876-S Type I/I, Type I/II, Type II,II
An that's just the easy level. There are actually Type IIM and Type IIL (M=middle and L=late) combos as well for obverses and reverses. These are a lot more subtle but are different master hubs.
Basically and ton of transition and die usage in these years for Trade Dollars.
Good post.
keoj