1888 Large Cent Non-Repaired N

Thank you Phil310 arrived today

Very cool, this is the first I have heard of this variety. Another coin to hunt down. Any ideas on percentages vs the standard 1888? I know the 1891 Repair N is rare and I have only seen a few.

I briefly covered these in Dies & Diadems (2009), page 80 and the diagram on page 81. Bill is correct, scarce, but not rare.

A few years ago, I came across an 1888 cent that has a double date that can easily be seen with the naked eye. This was not a new discovery but was enough to perk my interest in 1888 cents and for quite some time I was purchasing 1888 cents from multiple sources.
Knowing there were 4,000,000 1888 cents minted using 121 Obverse dies and 94 reverse dies, which translates to 33,058 coins per obverse die, I knew this venture would require many coins.
At this point in time, I have acquired over three hundred 1888 cents and discovered over 100 different die pairs. After taking thousands of pictures, I have anywhere from five to twelve pictures of each coin along with written descriptions. I also made radial D/C charts for each letter on the obverse and each leaf on the reverse where needed. I have compiled numerous files with pictures for each letter or leaf. As an example, all coins with a D/C to the "N" in Regina are side by side for comparison to aid in attribution.
Now the sad part is that my computer skills are extremely limited, I really have no idea how I can make this information available to the public. So, I have decided that over time I can at least show some of the more interesting 1888 coins that may be found.
If you have a collection of 1888 cents your first order for attribution is to divide them into groups according to the chart below.

Sorting into Groups
The first thing to do with your 1888 large cents is to determine which group your coins fall into.
They are divided into four distinct groups, group 1 also has a subgroup called 1A followed by groups 2, 3 and 4.
Placing your coins into the proper group is determined by the absence or presence of serifs on three letters within the obverse legend, the "D" in DEI, the "D" in CANADA and the "N" in REGINA.

• Group 1 Coins = All serifs present.
• Group 1A Coins = All serifs present but bottom serif on "D" in DEI has been re-engraved.
• Group 2 Coins = Missing bottom serif on "D" in DEI all others present.
• Group 3 Coins = Missing bottom serif on "D" in DEI and top serf on "D" in CANADA.
• Group 4 coins = Missing bottom serif on "D" in DEI and top serif on "D" in CANADA along with bottom left stand on the "N" in REGINA.

The coin presented in the original post would fall into Group 4 which I have found 6 different die pairs. The group four coins are certainly more difficult to find compared to the Group 1, 1A and group 2. However, by far the rarest 1888 cent is the group 3 coins as I have only found one die pair with this configuration for 1888 cents. This single obverse die is also found on some 1891 LDLL cents with the same missing serifs and I have reason to believe there are several others from 1891 that were carryover dies from 1888. More research would be required to determine how many.

Cheers, Bill

No, those are no Hound Dog's photos I believe. Those are the coins that a small group of us (4-5) compiled and then submitted to Charlton for the 65th edition which they then published. We submitted great photos, but not Hound Dog's. Hound Dog is the person I mentioned above that was doing all the analysis/study on the 1888's. His study is HUGE and a great reference, if he could get it published.

fourmack, your correct these are my photo's the first one is really nothing special I showed it because it was a coin featured in the back of the 2011 Charlton cat. page 324.
The second one is a coin from group 2 and if I had my time back I would remove the reference to the "N" and "D" being repaired.
Apart from the "D" in DIE on group 1A coins which were repaired with an engravers tool I see no evidence of repaired or re-punched letters on the coins from group 2,3,or 4.

I have 22 coins from Group 4 with the missing serifs in all three positions. It may be challenging to use the list below without the aid of pictures but might be worth a try.

Group 4 Coin Catalogue

1. Obverse: Clear.
Reverse: D/C at L15.
2. Obverse: Clear.
Reverse: D/C at L1, L6 & L12.
3. Obverse: D/C CANADA & REGINA.
Reverse: D/C tip of L12.
4. Obverse: D/C Between VI-/-CTORIA.
Reverse: D/C at L15 + faintly at L8.
5. Obverse: Cir D/C at VICT-ORIA.
Reverse: D/C at L1, L6 & L12.
6. Obverse: D/C CANADA & REGINA + Cir. D/C in CA-N-ADA.
Reverse: D/C Tip of L12.
7. Obverse: D/C CANADA + Clash.
Reverse: D/C at L1, L6 & L12 + Clash
8. Obverse: D/C CANADA & REGINA. Cir. D/C -VIC-T-ORIA D-EI
C-A-N-ADA
Reverse: Clear.
9. Obverse: Die Clash Below Portrait and Date clash below chin.
Reverse: D/C L4, L8, L15 + Cir. D/C L15 - L3 + D/Clash
10. Obverse: D/C VI-/-CTORIA + Cir. D/C DE-I
Reverse: D/C at L15 & faintly L8.
11. Obverse: D/C Faintly between VI-/-CTORIA.
Reverse: D/C at L15 + faintly L8
12. Obverse: Clear
Reverse: Clear 1888 doubled
13. Obverse: Clear.
Reverse: Die Clash near last eight + 1888.
14. Obverse: Clear
Reverse: Clear
15. Obverse: D/C VI-/-CTORIA
Reverse: D/C at L15
16. Obverse: D/C CANADA & REGINA, Cir. D/C all of legend +
Strong Die Clash.
Reverse: Clear, 1888.
17. Obverse: Cir. D/C connecting "C" & "T" in VIC--TORIA.
Reverse: D/C at L1, L6 & L12.
18. Obverse: D/C VI-/-CTORIA
Reverse: Clear.
19. Obverse: D/C at CANADA
Reverse: D/C at L1, L6 & L12
20. Obverse: Clear
Reverse: Clear
21. Obverse: D/C CANADA & REGINA + Cir. D/C in CA-N-ADA.
Reverse: D/C L12 HOLED.
22. Obverse: D/C at VICTORIA. (Mint State)
Reverse: D/C at L16, doubling 1888 & clash above "ONE"

Summary

Coin 1 has a clear obverse while the reverse has developed a D/C at L15. As the die life progresses it develops another die crack at L8 as seen in coins 4, 10 & 11. By this time the obverse has also rendered a small die crack situated between the " I " & " C " in VI--CTORIA. With continued use the reverse develops yet another D/C at L4 and a crack connecting the leaves from L15 around to L3, this can be seen on coin 9. However, by the time the reverse got to this state they have changed the obverse as there're no D/C on the obverse of coin 9 instead there's a strong obverse die clash below the portrait including an "8" under the Queen's chin.
Coins 1/4/10/11/15/18 all have same obverse & reverse.
Coin 9 has a clear obverse (clash only) with the same reverse in a much later die state.
Coins 2, 5, 7, 17 & 19 all have the same obverse & reverse however by the time coin 7 was minted the obverse had developed a D/C at the " C " in CANADA.
Coins 2/5/7/17/19 all have the same obverse & reverse.
Coins 3, 6, 8 & 16 all have the same obverse as evidenced by the D/C's at the " A " in REGINA & the " C " in CANADA. With coin's 3 & 6 on the reverse there's a D/C at the tip of L12 but with coin #8 & #16 the reverse is clear. The Obverse of Coins #8 & #16 are in a much later die state then coins 3 & 6 so this would indicate that at least two reverses were used with this obverse.
Coins 3/6/21 have the same obverse & reverse.
Coin 8/16 Same obverse as 3/6/21 above but with a different reverse.
Coin 22 new obverse & reverse
Coin 12/13/14/20 have no distinguishing features as both the obverse and reverse are clear in this die state. They could essentially be from any one of the coins above

Cheers, Bill