Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents

However, dies were not used in their order of manufacture. The actual emission sequence is not nearly so certain as Newcomb or Sheldon believed, even aside from several changes required by die break evidence. The dielinked group of numbers 1-8 probably came first: only here do we find obverses with the broken Y of 1800- 01, and this group contains a leftover 1801 reverse. Number 20 probably came last as it followed 1803 number 1, by die state evidence of their shared reverse. But we are not nearly so confident about the four intermediate groups. Numbers 10-11 may have come earlier than Newcomb or Sheldon believed: reverse of 10 is a Type of 1799 die, probably made about the same time as the reverse dies of 1800 number 29 and 1801 numbers 9 and 10, with all of which it shares the chipped N(E). The reverse of number 11 has normal TS, but all NS are broken at both the top and base; whereas the reverse of numbers 12 and 14-16, with broken TS, have normal tops to NS: which dies were made before the punch breakage, which ones were hand repaired? Newcomb placed the varieties we call 12 and 13 immediately before our numbers 14-16, apparently because the layout of reverse of 13 resembles the latter. The order herein adopted may therefore be subject to revision.

Positional Key to 1802 Obverses

When checking the position of the curl point, hold the coin so that B is upright; when checking the position of junction of forelock and brow, hold the coin so that T is upright. Verify with Key below: weak or unusually heavy strikings can produce minute variations.

Key To 1802

This key will identify unbroken-die specimens of varieties more often recognized by die breaks, cracks, or clash marks. Start with the major features in bold type face locating one which fits. It is very important to follow these in the order presented making sure that the feature does not apply before moving to the next. Under that category, locate a feature in plain type face and finally a feature in smaller print. Verify with the illustrations and written descriptions at the variety listings.