Reverse Die a Fingerprints

Reverse Die a, like Obverse Die 1, is somewhat unique because by definition it is a die without distinguishing characteristics, and it is the obverse pairing that creates the VAM.  However, that just creates a different type analysis where we analyze the Die a pairings to see if there are die cracks or breaks that will identify associations between these otherwise featureless dies.

 

As of this analysis there are fifty-four Die a pairings, so a significant portion of all identified VAMs are obverse die focused.  When we look at the obverse dies a similar issue exists for Obverse Die 1.  Although incomplete in its detail, you can see a matrix of all die pairings here.

 

All coins in this analysis are officially designated as Reverse Die a.

Obverse

Die

VAM

Potential Cracks and Breaks

Latest Stage Image

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

  • VAM 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1A

  • VAM 1A is defined as the "Spike in 8"
  • We believe that this VAM may go away as it has become a descriptor for many subsequently discovered VAMs

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1B1

  • VAM 1B1 is defined as the "Die Gouge in DOL & Denticle Impressions above DOL"
  • It is one of five reverse dies with this distinctive feature
  • The issues we have seen have cracks that follow the coin rim, but primarily on the eagle's left wing side
  • We have eight examples of this VAM as of January 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1D

  • VAM 1D is known as the "Flaky Eye" variety and the reverse is largely ignored.
  • We examined our whole 1D inventory and could find no evidence of reverse die cracks for this analysis
  • This was an examination of 24 coins, so thorough

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1F

  • VAM 1F is defined as "Pitted Obverse Right Field and Eagle" although on many examples the pitting is quite light
  • We only have six examples of this VAM and of those probably three could show die cracks
  • However, none show any signs of cracks or breaks

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1G

  • VAM 1G is defined as Die Gouges Inner Wing #1 and has a lot of reverse features
  • We have many examples but none show any signs of die cracks

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1I

  • VAM 1I shows perimeter die cracks where we often see them
  • So far we have not matched this set of cracks to other VAM dies
  • We have only one example of this VAM and it is an AU 53

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1J

  • VAM 1J

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1K

  • VAM 1K

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

  • VAM 4 shows only minor die cracks toward the rim at AMER
  • The die is clashed, but without letter transfer

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

4A

  • VAM 4A shows only minor die cracks toward the rim at AM believed to be the same as VAM 4 just shorter
  • The shorter die crack is probably from wear
  • The die is clashed with the transfer of the letter n at the neck

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.2

  • VAM 9.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

  • VAM 14 shows no reverse die cracks on our examples

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

  • VAM 15

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

  • VAM 16

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

17

  • VAM 17

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

1B2

  • VAM 1B2 is defined as "Die Gouge in DOLLAR, Clashed Obverse n & st"
  • It is one of five reverse dies with this distinctive feature
  • The issues we have seen have cracks that follow the coin rim, but primarily on the eagle's left wing side, and these are consistent with the die cracks on VAM 1B1
  • We have twelve examples of this VAM as of January 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

18

  • VAM 18 is defined as "Doubled 18, Die Gouge DOL" and shares the same obverse die as VAM 1B2
  • It is one of five reverse dies with this distinctive feature
  • Unlike VAMs 1B1 and 1B2, this VAM has no reverse die cracks
  • We have five examples of this VAM as of January 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

19

  • VAM 19

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

  • VAM 20

 

 

 

 

 

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

49

  • VAM 49 is defined as "Doubled 1-1, Die Gouge DOL" and shares the same obverse die as VAMs 62 and 63
  • It is one of five reverse dies with this distinctive feature
  • It has a lot of minor die cracks that match up with others in the "Die Gouge DOL" series and shows the most die deterioration
  • We believe this is the last use of the reverse die with these features
  • We have only three examples of this VAM as of January 2018, and only one of those is a mint state coin

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

24

  • VAM 24.1 shows only a minor die crack toward the top rim
  • At the time of this analysis we had seven VAM 24.1 coins for analysis
  • It is believed that the reverse of VAM 24.1 is a clashed version of VAM 1K

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

26

  • VAM 26 reverse shows die cracks consistent with VAM 26A.
  • This die usage may have come after VAM 26A and the die repolished to remove the clashes

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

26A

  • VAM 26A shows minor die cracks, but the just about circle the die at the rim
  • It appears that the die was used on VAM 26A and then repolished and used on VAM 26
  • The die has nice clashes and is a really desirable variety

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

  • VAM 27 is one of the Hot 50 VAMs in the series
  • The reverse is devoid of die cracks or breaks

 

 

 

 

 

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

 

28

  • VAM 28

VAM 28.1

VAM 28.2

VAM 28.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

 

 

 

29

  • VAM 29

 

 

 

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

31

  • VAM 31

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

33B

  • VAM 33B

 

 

 

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

34

  • VAM 34

 

 

 

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

34A

  • VAM 34A shows no signs of die cracks or breaks

 

 

 

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

 

39

  • VAM 39

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

 

 

 

40.1

  • VAM 40,1 and 40.2 shows die cracks across the bottom bow and up both sides of the wreath
  • The crack running horizontally over the mint mark is the most often cited characteristic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

 

 

 

40.2

  • VAM 40,1 and 40.2 shows die cracks across the bottom bow and up both sides of the wreath
  • The crack running horizontally over the mint mark is the most often cited characteristic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

42

  • VAM 42

 

 

 

 

 

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

 

43

  • VAM 43 is defined as "Doubled Left 8 & Phrygian Cap, Die Gouge DOL" and shares the same obverse die as VAM 47
  • It is one of five reverse dies with the distinctive feature
  • It has minor die cracks that match up with others in the "Die Gouge DOL" series
  • We have only two examples of this VAM as of January 2018, and only one of those is a mint state coin

 

 

 

 

 

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

 

47

  • VAM 47 is defined as "Doubled Left 8 & Phrygian Cap and is a later state than VAM 43
  • In our one example it is very lightly clashed which probably contributed to the die's deterioration
  • There are numerous die cracks indicating that this use of the die came after VAM 53

 

 

 

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

50

  • VAM 50 shows no die cracks or breaks on the reverse die

 

 

 

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

50A

  • VAM 50A shows no die cracks or breaks on the reverse die

 

 

 

 

 

 

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

52

  • VAM 52 coins do not show signs of die cracks on the reverse

 

 

 

 

 

 

34

 

 

 

 

 

 

53

  • VAM 53 reverse has very distinctive die cracks running down through the wreath and mint mark
  • There are many examples of this VAM with some or none of these markings

 

 

 

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

 

 

 

66

  • VAM 66 do not show any reverse die cracks on the examples in our collection

 

 

 

 

 

 

37

 

 

 

 

 

 

56

  • VAM 56

 

 

 

 

 

 

39

 

 

 

 

 

 

58

  • VAM 58 is defined as Doubled Left 8
  • The reverse shows no evidence of die cracks

 

 

 

 

 

 

42

 

 

 

 

 

 

72

  • VAM 72 is primarily recognized by the polished forehead feature on the obverse
  • The obverse die shows no die cracks
  • The reverse die shows significant cracks toward the rim

 

 

 

 

 

 

43

 

 

 

 

 

 

65

  • VAM 65 is defined as Doubled 18-1 and is paired with Obverse Die 43
  • There are no die cracks on the reverse die

 

 

 

 

 

 

49

 

 

 

 

 

 

73

  • VAM 73 is defined as Doubled 18, Scratch Eye Front, Wing Top Gouges
  • We have but one example and it shows no die scratches or breaks on the reverse die.

 

 

 

 

 

 

50

 

 

 

 

 

 

74

  • VAM 74 is defined as Doubled 18
  • We have only two examples and neither of them shows any die cracks on the reverse

 

 

 

 

 

 

54

 

 

 

 

 

 

79

  • VAM 79 is a discovery VAM for us
  • The reverse has a unique die crack pattern that circles the coin almost completely

 

 

 

 

 

 

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

80

  • VAM 80 is another discovery VAM from our collection
  • It shows no signs of die cracks or breaks on the reverse of the coin

 

 

 

 

 

 

56

 

 

 

 

 

 

81

  • VAM 81 is another discovery VAM from our collection
  • It shows no signs of die cracks or breaks on the reverse of the coin