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1840
With Drapery
Variety 101
Obverse 1: Medium Date, Downward Slope
Reverse A: Perfect Die
Obverse 1 Reverse A
Obverse Diagnostic Point(s)
Comments: 1840 is the transition year from No Drapery to With Drapery master hub. While 1840 No Drapery coinage is moderately available, the With Drapery coinage is quite scarce and always in demand by date and mintmark collectors. This date and major design modification can be located in Good through Very Fine grades but becomes very difficult in EF or better and very rare in Mint State.
Ahwash notes several reverse die cracks on examples studied. He states, "Die crack from rim through (O)F to upper tip of wreath. Another from left second berry, up past UNITE(D S)TATES to rim." One must question these obvervations as the die cracks may actually be heavy die polish lines. The die polish lines on the Eugene H. Gardner plate coin do match Ahwash's reverse description.
Plate Coin: Courtesy Eugene H. Gardner Collection, PCGS MS63