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1891-O
Variety 109
Obverse 7: Medium Level Date, Die Cracks Through UNITED STATE OF AMERICA
Reverse I: Medium O Over Horizontal O, [mm C,H,TL1]
Obverse 7 Reverse I
Obverse Diagnostic Point(s) Reverse Diagnostic Point(s)
Comments: Obverse 7 is first paired with Reverse I, the reverse die that has come to be known as the Medium O over Horizontal O reverse. Obverse 7 has faint die cracks through the bottoms of the letters UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. In addition, the die crack crosses through Liberty's head.
Reverse I exhibits a die crack from the rim to the upper part of the maple leaf in the left wreath. The pairing of Obverse 7 with Reverse I was probably of a short duration based on the rarity of the Medium O over Horizontal O variety. Afterwards, Obverse 7 will be paired with Reverse J for striking additional coinage.
If a close inspection of the Medium O over Horizontal O mintmark is done, the aspect ratio of the box formed by the intersection of the Medium O and the residual Horizontal O is not 1:1. If one overlays two Medium O mintmarks at a 90 degree rotation to each other, then the central overlap of the mintmarks should be a square and not a rectangle. This is food for thought for the next Seated dime variety specialist who wishes to explore the origins of this variety further.
Plate Coin: G. Fortin Collection, AU55