Q. David Bowers
The word LIBERTY can be examined for broken letter segments, and for the spacing between letters, although such spacing differences are often hard to discern.
The highest wave of Miss Liberty's hair in relation to the letters in LIBERTY is a useful guidepost. Usually, it is under the upright of the E, but sometimes it is more under the center of the E, or, very occasionally, toward the right. If a die has been relapped, often the highest wave of Miss Liberty's hair is indistinct or missing.
The date has several features, including the style of the numerals (Knob 9 or Pointed 9 among 1798 dollars), the shape of the 7, the distance of the numerals from each other and their alignment in relation to each other, and their distance from the lowest curl, the neck truncation, and the denticles.
KEYS TO ATTRIBUTING HERALDIC EAGLE REVERSE DIES:
Large Letters (used only in early 1798) or Small Letters (used later in 1798 and in all later years of dollars dated through 1804).
Placement of the letters in STATES OF in relation to the clouds below.
The leftmost one or two arrows and their position in relation to the UN of UNITED.
The arrow shafts, the arrowheads, and the arrow feathers, with regard to their placement, size, and appearance (note: if a die has been relapped or ground down, the arrow shafts will become thinner, and the arrowheads may be disconnected; this does not constitute a separate variety, just a separate die state).
The berries and their placement on the branch.
The end of the branch-its length, formation, and the direction in which it points.
The position of leaf tips in relation to the letters ICA in AMERICA.
The position of the first A in AMERICA in relation to the eagle's wing feathers (such differences are often minor, however).
The stars above the eagle, including the position of star point(s) in relation to the eagle's beak, the eight clouds, and to other stars. The star points in relation to the letters IBU in PLURIBUS are often used as points of differentiation.
The pattern of arrangement of the stars-arc or line. The letters in E PLURIBUS UNUM.
ADDITIONAL ATTRIBUTION GUIDES (OBVERSE AND REVERSE):
The following additional key points can be used if needed, but are not as popular as those already mentioned.
The relationship of star points, letters, or numerals to denticles can be used to differentiate dies, but is not usually employed when more obvious differences can be found.
By means of an optical measuring device, distances and relationships of letters, stars, motifs, etc., can be measured in millimeters. To date, this has not been a popular discipline.
DIE STATES AS AN ATTRIBUTION GUIDE:
Often, a particular die variety usually or always (so far as is known) is seen with a distinctive die crack. These can be used as attribution guides. A problem develops if a coin is of an unlisted die state, without the usual die crack, or if it has a die crack which has not been recorded in the literature. I suggest that die cracks be used to verify a variety and, of course, to help determine a die state, However, in all instances other points of difference should be examined to be sure that a given variety has correct positional relationships of stars, letters, etc.
EDGE LETTERING:
Each silver dollar of this era has the edge lettered HUNDRED CENTS ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT (plus ornamentation). As photographs do not usually include edge lettering, and as the edges of coins sealed in holders cannot be examined easily (if at all), it is not easy for a scholar to gain information. In the Washington token, half cent, large cent, half dollar, and pattern coin series, edge lettering has been studied in detail; but thus far, virtually no' research has been done on business strike dollars of the 1794-1803 dates.
Russell J. Logan has written the followings. (Excerpted and lightly edited from.a letter to the author, January 11; 1993.)
"As you are well aware, the sequence in which the working dies were made is not necessarily the same' as they were used .... The life of the Castaing edge lettering machine dies used for the half dollars [denomination studied by Logan in detail] was approximately three times longer than either the obverse or reverse dies; consequently, the information derived from studying their emission sequence is paramount in establishing the emission-order of the coins. Identifying each silver dollar edge die by its own diagnostic features and then sorting by die wear is required for a striking emission sequence of this series."
Numeral styles: There are two basic styles of 9 on the 1798 obverse dies.
Knob 9: The first and earlier numeral style is the Knob 9, 'which is found on 1798 BB-81 and BB-82 (the Small Eagle reverse dollars made early in theyear) as well as Heraldic Eagle reverse varieties BB-91 through BB-96.
Pointed Tail 9. The second arid later numeral style is the Pointed Tail 9; used on all other varieties from 1798 BB-101 to BB-125.
The underside of the curved upper part of the Pointed Tail 9 has a little "spur" or metal burr extending downward to the left; from a defect on the number punch. In 1950, M.H. Bolender noted that he had seen the spur plainly oil the varieties known today as BE-104, BB-105, BB-108, BE-109, BB-112, BB-120, BB-122, and BB-123. As this spur is weak on some varieties and stronger on others, attribution should not be based upon this feature. Pointed Tail 9s, including many with spurs, are seen on all dollars dated 1799 as well.