1816 Large Cen Variety Question

Thanks. I think I finally figured out the secret, at least with matron heads. ID the reverse first. The spacing on the lettering is quite distinctly different on each one. One would think that they would have used a pattern, but apparently not.

The one that gives me a laugh is the AMERI. chain cent. You'd think that before jumping right into engraving, you'd make a sketch first.

Correct there is a lot more variability with the reverses because there are so many more elements. You can look at the spacing of the letters but typically the positions of the letters compared to the leaf point below them is used.

I typically look at the position of the point of leaf below the second S in STATES and use that to narrow it down to a few varieties. Then the POL below the F narrows those varieties even more.

Thise system works through 1833, less well in 34 and 35, but around 1836 they started using hubs and the leaf positions don't change from one variety to the next.