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1875-S
Small S - Variety 117
Obverse 14: High Date, Slight Downward Slope
Reverse L: Early Die State, Small Filled S, [mm Lt,H]
Obverse 14 Reverse L
Obverse Diagnostic Point(s) Reverse Diagnostic Point(s)
Comments: During June 2011, Sean Shaughnessy posted an 1875-S dime on LSCC message board and questioned if new variety. His dime featured a Small Filled S mintmark but the obverse diagnostics did not match F-112 (Obverse 12). After careful review of Sean's dime in person, the reverse is confirmed to be the only known Small Filled S reverse (Reverse L) paired with Obverse 14. During this die pairing, Reverse L is in early die state with no die cracks as compared to the late die state diagnostics of F-112 pairing. Interesting, on Sean's dime, another Reverse L diagnostic was discovered; a die defect on the corn ear to the right of bottom foot of DIM(E).
Reverse L remains as the only known Small Filled S mintmarked die for the 1875-S Below Wreath date after yields of searching by variety specialist. I consider this Small Filled S to be the Tall Narrow S mintmark referred to by Breen and Greer.
Breen lists a below wreath Tall Narrow S mintmark as B-3381 and considered the variety to be rare. He continues to list a Tall Narrow S mintmark for the 1876-S Type I reverse (B-3393) and the Type II reverse (B-3394). Also for 1877-S, Breen lists B-3404 as a Type II reverse with a Tall Narrow S mintmark. In subsequent listings of San Francisco 1876 and 1877 reverse dies, Breen's Tall Narrow S mintmark will always be listed and described as a Small Filled S mintmark by the author.
Plate Coin: Courtesy of Sean Shaughnessy Collection, EF40