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1839
Variety 106a
Obverse 3.2: Business Strikes, Star 8 Repunched
Reverse F.2: Business Strikes, Die Spur on O(F), Normal Reverse Alignment
Obverse 3.2 Reverse F.2
Comments: The Obverse 3 and Reverse F die pair are re-used for business strike coinage. During the production of business strikes, the obverse and reverse die alignment is normal, in other words inconsistent with most of the 1839 dime coinage since only the Variety 105a through 105c business strikes are found with normal die alignment. All other business strikes are found with the reverse die rotated left 18 or 23 degrees.
Obverse 3 maintains its primary diagnostics including a date punch position measurement of DR -2L, repunching on Star 8 and a die scratch from the bottom of the right breast into the bottom of the pole.
Reverse F is found with small die spur on the top of O(F).
The author first become aware of this variety and re-use of proof dies after years of searching 1839 coinage for the elusive Pie Shattered Obverse die states. Since those die states are found with no reverse die rotation, cherrypicking is straightforward. However, at the October 2013 Manchester, NH Seated Dime Fest event, the author purchased the plate coin for further research as it exhibited no reverse rotation but with a date punch position of DR -2L. The plate coin was boldly struck with sharp stars and devices along with a sharp rim and no mint frost from metal flow lines.
Since this is the first specimen seen, estimating rarity is difficult but will be set at R7.
Plate Coin: G. Fortin Collection, EF40