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1856-O
Variety 106a
Obverse 4.2: Late Die State Rusted Obverse Die, Repunched Date, Die Cracks, Clashed Die
Reverse D.2: Large O, [mm Rt,H], Polished and Clashed Die
Obverse 4.2 Reverse D.2
Obverse Diagnostic Point(s) Reverse Diagnostic Point(s)
Comments: Obverse 4 has degraded further and shows continued rusting. Liberty's head detail has been all but eliminated on the plate coin. The obverse die has also cracked with radial die cracks from Star 1 through Star 7 and from Star 9 through Star 13. The die defect on Star 4 remains very evident. Faint die clashing is also seen to the left of Liberty's left hand. The date punch has weakened, but repunching is still evident within the lower loop of the 5 digit only.
I believe that Reverse D has been polished prior to striking the plate coin. The mintmark position remains consistent with Variety 106 but the previously noted die lines in the lower right wreath are no longer visible. The height of the reverse design elements has been reduced during this die state, thus the suggestion of die polishing. I have struggled to find a reverse die marker that could easily separate Reverse D from Reverse A after it had also been polished down to remove die lines between the left denticles and wreath. Both dies have Large O mintmarks that are consistent in their placement. After much inspection, a die marker was found. The serifs and feet on D(I)ME are thick on Reverse D while on Reverse A, the same serifs are much thinner. See Reverse A photographs at Variety 104. As a result, I have changed the Variety 101 listing to be that of a die pairing between Obverse 1 and a late die state Reverse D that has seen continued polishing.
Plate Coin: G. Fortin Collection, PCGS AU58 
- Ex. Cook