Am I missing something or is the 1839/6 (N-1) cent actually an 1836 cent?
renomedphys
Posts: 3,813 ✭✭✭✭✭
Okay so I just bought one of these at the EAC show after another member casually mentioned this theory to me. I mean let’s look: 
This image is not that of my coin and only illustrates my point.
This looks obviously to me like the exact head of 1836, right down to the plain cords. We already know that the plain cords went out in 1837, and if you carefully look at all the different dates from 1836 to 1839, you'll notice that all the heads are subtly different. This one looks like an 1836 to me. Mine does too. Here’s one for comparison: 
I suppose it’s reasonably arguable that these were made from leftover dies from 1836, and the engraver simply punched in an inverted 6 (it’s not a 9!) over an upright one that was incompletely ground off, but why weren’t those dies used in 1837? Why did they sit for three years until 1839 to be used again? Thoughts?
Comments
Hi Matt -
My unintelligent thought is the heads aren’t “exactly” alike! Just slightly different to my eye. Nothing really to offer as a counter to your analysis.
Ken
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
Nickelodeon
A quick check of the Wright book shows the reverse die as being used on 1839 varieties 1-4-9.
That is definitely the 39/6 cent.
Yes a leftover die from ‘36 was used, why they waited, who knows. Maybe it was misplaced, or they had a smaller budget early that year and had to scrounge, at least until all the other new obverse dies were created…
For those so inclined, this is from part III of a treatise on large cent overdates from John D. Wright from 1969:
Okay so this would seem to indicate an actual 1839 mintage and is probably good enough for me to believe it. TBH it’s such a weird coin. Look at the 9. It’s a 6! It’s like they made the die in 1836 and they were like, “oops!” And the boss was like “no worries, just hang onto that die for three years and we’ll use it then 👍🏻”. Right?
Empty Nest Collection
@Walkerguy21D 😱 What’s on the next page???
Empty Nest Collection
My own humble example, from a copper collection assembled in the 50’s and early 60’s, from which I purchased a number of coins from the dealer friend who acquired it from the estate. It’s now in a PCGS 25 holder;
Doh, sorry, did that with my phone, must've hit the same pic 2x - here you go:
Mine. Photos borrowed from previous owner’s set registry.
Some crappy airport iPhone pics:
Empty Nest Collection
Very nice example, @renomedphys!
I’m sure many people who are accustomed to you posting stellar gems won’t appreciate it, but knowing that there are likely less than a dozen of these graded higher makes it an impressive coin to me!