1861/0 Half Dime - Any Other Diagnostic Markers?

I picked up a NGC 1861 Seated half dime with the possibility of it being a 1861/0 over date. The sellers images were not that good so I took a chance, and there is the customary 14 day return policy.

Those who have seen the characteristic "blob" under the second "1" in the date, know that this is the point of reference.

My question; is there another reference point in determining the variety?

There is a indication on the second "1" which may be an "late die stage" identifier, however it is incomplete as far as the "blob" goes. I noticed a "thorn" or "spur" on the lower left hand side of the "8" on the MS examples on PCGS;


(PCGS Image above)

Here are my images of the coin in question (the images are a bit blurry since the coin is sitting low into the slab gasket and the focal distance falls a little short);










It is well known that certain characteristics begin to "wear-away" with increased circulation. Although this example is a High AU example, there is some "crud" around and within the date, obscuring some details.



NOTE: according to the NGC website, they do not recognize this "variety" any longer.

"The so-called 1861/0 Half Dime is fairly common and is now thought to be simply the result of a defective date punch. Therefore, NGC no longer recognizes this as a variety."

http://www.ngccoin.com/NGCCoinExplo...CoinID=14379

ANACS and PCGS still recognizes it though. Weird that one TPG does not recognize a well-known variety...any more