Top Die Varieties by Date

The Top Die Varieties by Date set is a project that began in 2012. It has undergone several revisions with detailed input from members of the Fly-in Club. All ‘top’ or ‘best of’ lists are subjective, but the list below should get at the heart of what collectors desire. All comments are welcome.

A complete date set of varieties would feature a specimen from all known hub types, thus some dates have more than a single coin. Examples are the Shallow and Bold N dies of 1870, 71 and 72 – and the Type 1 and Type 2 designs in 1886. Therefore, our list is by date and hub type.

This date set was constructed beginning with the Top Varieties by Type list. Luckily, none of them share a date so we can include them all in our date set below. To date, no individual has been known to assemble such a myriad of varieties. Will you be the first? Good luck!

 

Top Flying Eagle Cent Die Varieties

Variety Notes
  1857 Obv. of 1856 RPD-002
  1857 Obv. of 1857 MDC-002
  1858 LL/HL OVD-001
  1858 LL/LL Close E DDO-010
  1858 LL/LL Open E DDO-005
  1858 SL/HL DDO-014
  1858 SL/LL Close E DDO-009
  1858 SL/LL Open E DDO-008, RPD-002
 

Top Indian Head Cent Die Varieties

Variety Notes
1859 RPD-001
  1860 Rounded ODD-001
  1860 Pointed RPD-001
  1861 RPD-001
  1862 DDR-001
1863 DDR-001
  1864 CN – Unlisted The top CN variety for this date has not yet been published, stay tuned for its release.
1864 No-L BR CRK-003
1864 L BR RPD-001
  1865 Fancy DDR-001
  1865 Plain 5 MPD-001, RPD-003
  1866 DDO-001, MPD-001
  1867 RPD-001
  1868 DDO-002, MPD-002, RPD-002
  1869 RPD-001
1870 Shallow N The most desirable 1870 Shallow N die marriage is typically with the ‘Pick Axe‘ obverse! 1870 DDO-005, ODD-001.
1870 Bold N The most desirable 1870 Bold N die marriage is typically with this obverse: 1870 DDO-001, MPD-001, RPD-002.
  1871 Shallow N Although the second 1870 Shallow N, DIE-002, is paired with an obverse with a MPD, the most desirable Shallow N specimen for this date is 1871 DIE-001 because of its rarity.
  1871 Bold N  ODD-001, PUN-002 – Bar-lip variety
  1872 Shallow N The most desirable Shallow N die is probably the last of the four, DIE-004. It is paired with the 1872 MPD-002 obverse, which is also paired with a Bold N reverse, so watch out!
  1872 Bold N The most desirable variety with a Bold N reverse in 1872 forms two CUDs and remains unattributed. The die is paired with the obverse 1872 MPD-001, RPF-002. Be careful, because this obverse is paired with another Bold N die that does not have CUDs. The die marriage with the cuds on the reverse would be most desirable.
  1873 Open 3 DDO-003
1873 Closed 3 DDO-001
  1874 DDO-001
1875 DOT-001
  1876 MPD-001
  1877 No varieties this year, but watch out for Bold N reverses. They are most probably fakes as a real one has yet to be found.
  1878 MPD-001
1879 RPD-001
  1880 OCC-001
  1881 ODD-001 Missing ribbon ends
  1882 MPD-003  Digits in the pearls
1883 MPD-001 1 in the neck
1884 ODD-001 Star on shield reverse. This die variety comes paired with two obverses, one with a MPD in the denticles.
  1885 MPD-001
  1886 Variety 1 RPD-002 Large 6 over Small 6
  1886 Variety 2 RPD-001 Large 6 over Small 6
  1887 DDO-001
  1888 OVD-001
  1889 OCC-001
1890 QDO-001
  1891 DDO-001
1892 ODD-002 ‘Scarface’ variety
  1893 RPD-001
1894 RPD-001
1895 MPD-001 5 in hair curl
  1896 RPD-008
1897 MPD-001  ‘THE MPD’
1898 MPD-011
  1899 ODD-001, RPD-029 Spiked lip
1900 MPD-002 1 in forehead
1901 RST-001 Rusted reverse
1902 ODD-001 Die gouge by eye
1903 ODD-001 ‘Goatee’ variety
  1904 RPD-003
  1905 DDR-002
  1906 DDR-002
1907 RPD-027
  1908 MPD-007
1908-S RPM-001
1909 DDO-001 The double dies of 1909 are extremely similar, but the 1909 DDO-001 is believed to be master die doubling of two different designs. This theory helps explain the Large L over Small L exhibited in Liberty’s ribbon
1909-S None

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