After reading where a collector thought they found a yet undocumented 1857/6 "overdate," I thought I'd post a few useful diagnostics on how to distinguish a genuine 1856 FE from manipulated or damaged coins. I have seen manipulated coins that copied the date well, yet the forger does not attempt to create these details.
Every obverse die made for 1856 will show these details (including the 1857 "type of 1856"--but this is
not an overdate). Below I have compared an 1856 FE to the large letters type used from 1857-58. Of course by now, somebody may have tooled a die that captures all these details, and one should naturally only buy a
authenticated 1856.
1. For 1856, the inner shape of the O within "OF" is
rectangular, particularly in the upper edge.
Compare this to the more
oval shape post-1856. Because this shape varies slightly between strikes, it must be confirmed by:
2. On 1856 FE cents, the middle serif of F in OF has an exaggerated lower point with concavity on the outer edge of the flare.
The normal 1857 has a straight outer edge with a less pronounced lower serif.
3. The lower apex of the M in AMERICA for 1856 is thin with a bulbous end; the normal 1857 M is a point more widely spaced between serifs.
Please add any more diagnostics known to you that are unique to 1856 outside the date.
Posted 01/06/2009 05:17 am
