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 |
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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 |
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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 |
Additional Resources
Flying Eagle and Indian Cent Die Varieties by Larry R. Steve and Kevin J. Flynn