Obverse 3

Left date #2

This new obverse die is almost identical to Obverse 2 found on BF-2. Like that die, the right side of the 1 in the date is under the shield point, although careful examination shows it is ever so slightly right of the date position of Obverse 2. This new obverse shows no repunching of the 1.

Oddly enough, there is a similar thin gouge or die line next to the same denticle below the 1, but it is minutely left of the one on Obverse 2! The top of this die line actually intrudes into the denticle itself. See comparison photos below for date and denticle die line placement.



Obverse 3, not recut (left) vs. Obverse 2 (right)

Date position: M 1.5, 0.45 mm

Reverse A
There are two die markers on the reverse, located by the arrows below. See the two additional detailed close-up photos below.

One die line runs diagonal down and to the right, just left of the eagle’s tail feathers (photo below).

The other is a line underneath the eagle’s left (right facing) wing, to the right of its tail feathers (photo below). This line can be difficult to see in low-grade examples.

Comments: This die marriage was discovered by the authors in May 2017 when the owner of the discovery coin had originally misattributed it as BF-2 because of the left date position. This is the only use of this obverse die, and the first use of the reverse die.

Scarcity: This is a very rare die marriage as it has eluded us for so many years, and its true rarity is still an estimate. There must be a few out there to be found. Rarity rating: R-6.