The attribution point I used was the POL to U in UNITED. S-86 is unique among the 96 Caps in that regard.
I think simple spreading of copper from excess wear is the better explanation. It makes the leaf appear closer the the U, but from wear rather than the die.
My S-39 arrived and these are my first photos: If you look carefully between FOR A, you can see an earlier edge AR ~. Perhaps some other letters can be seen, but I just decided to post my initial observations. I think there is more here than I thought from the seller's photos.
I picked this up last night because I can't attribute it. There are several points that should make it attributable, but I haven't found a match yet. The falling berry {left of O(N)}, the elongated upper serif of the middle of E {(C)E}and hair positions relative to LIBERTY. I can find any of these, but not all. The closest I can come up with is an early die state of S-213, but I have to make a lot of allowances for PMD imitating positions and digits. Also, I can't find another S-213 with dentils showing above IB regardless of grade.
This is another S-191 and my second entombed with a straight grade (G4) to go with my NGC F-12). But this one may be an earlier Die State than seen by Noyes. I see no evidence of the Die Break through ICA evident in his earliest Reverse State B. He indicates the State A was only seen on NC-1.(
I'm stubborn at times. I now believe this is an 1800 S-209. This is from the position of the point of 1, the right side of 1 left of the junction of the hair and shoulder, The point of curl under the left side of the curve of B and the similar clash marks under the hair ribbons and highest curl. The reverse also matches up with complete loops.
I know the attribution, as I was watching that one! I will not be giving it away, however - let’s give the others a chance. Congrats on winning it - you got a great price. Very tough R-5+ (hint, hint), and these don’t come particularly nice (finest known is an XF IIRC). I stopped bidding around $25.
Definitely a good price for an S-122. I was able to find an S-124 some time ago for just a little over that.
I've been dabbling in Ancients, so I haven't posted much here. But I did add two this morning. Both are interesting for what they MIGHT be rather than for what is easily discernible. First is this 1800 with type 1 hair and which I won't even bother to show the obverse. But the area around the numerator and first digit of the denominator have caught my attention. Even extremely worn, it might be a second coin showing that discoloration in the Comp Coin may be a trace of a second die state. SUBJECT SUBJECT NC-6 COMP It's tantalizing, but I can't really be certain.
Marshall, I would love to see your S-124 if you have pictures of it. This is the one that I found - It was unattributed so I think I got lucky.
The second is an 1803 S-265 which may have a die crack not shown on the current Terminal Die State. This is one which I had just ordered followed by the newer one. The first shows the break through S which I believed to be State VIII or IX from it's development but without the marker visible to confirm that. The new crack appears to start above the E, cross the bottom of the E at the previous crack, through the leaves above (N)E, the middle of E, the left stem of (N)T to the base of T. this new crack is sharper than the previous crack which has faded and disappeared over N on this example. I'm anxious to see what you guys think. And please don't spare my feelings since I need to avoid wishtribution.