It's pretty but the colors make me sure it was messed with at some point. That's not really the topic of the thread. The coin has a lot of fun stuff going on. Feel free to add anything I missed. Obverse Nice example of Longacre doubling on the lettering. Clash marks in front of the eye and along the feathers. Long die crack going thru the date. Reverse Tiny amount of MD, here and there. Clash marks, all over the place. The shield points connect to the denticles. Much like some proofs but this is not a proof. Some tiny die cracks and a really nice pair on the right side.
Nice IHC!!! And the die cracks give it personality. There's some on the obverse starting from the rim between the "1" and "U" and going both directions. I see part going through the base of the "1" and into the lower loop of the first "8". In the other direction it goes through the top of the "U" and looks like it might connect the tops of "IT". And finally it looks like there's another connecting the "TE" in STATES then heading out to the rim. Snow doesn't generally list the die cracks since they are not die varieties; they are just die states.
Thanks. I took those 13 years ago. Could probably do better now. Notice how the right side of the coin is a bit out of focus. That came from having the coin tilted to the lens, not flat to the lens.
I love IHC's. As many of you have found, the cost of the 1877 IHC is prohibitive unless you have the cash to purchase one. The Red Book has it going for $400 at G-4. To get a nice one, you could by a one ounce gold coin for less unless you have a good source. Best of luck. Let me know if you find one.
