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1876-CC
Type I Reverse - Variety 106a
Obverse 5: Doubled Obverse Die, Medium Level Date, Large Knob 6
Reverse E.3: Major Die Crack 8:00-9:00, Small CC, [mm Lt,L], Doubled ONE DIME
Obverse 5 Reverse E.3
Reverse Diagnostic Point(s)
Die State E.3 Die State E.2 (F-112 Pairing)
Comments: During April 2013, David Poliquin contacted the author concerning an 1876-CC Double Die Obverse dime with level CC mintmark and a significant die crack in the left wreath. After receiving and inspecting the dime, the bold die crack was directly matched to that of an earlier die state already published as Reverse E.2 for Variety 112. I was able to match the severe die crack between 8:00 - 9:00 and also the die crack through the top of the CC mintmark which confirmed David's dime was a later die state. This 1876-CC Doubled Die Obverse dime is listed as Variety 106a to capture the later reverse die state.
However, one important question does remain. Why did the Carson City mint interrupt the Variety 106 die pairing (Double Die Obverse with Level CC Mintmark Reverse) to pair Reverse E with another obverse die and misalign the obverse and reverse dies during that pairing (See Variety 112)? After the Variety 112 die pairing, Reverse E is in a later die state and once again paired with Obverse 5 to produce the above striking. More research is required to locate a higher grade example of Variety 106a to examine the Obverse 5 die state and determine the emission sequence for Obverse 5 and Reverse E.
Plate Coin: Gerry Fortin Rare Coins Inventory, EF45 (above top), David Poliquin Collection, G6 (top)