New pickup here. I was drawn to it because that last feather goes between the I and C of AMERICA, dating it from 1864-1886. Then, I think I see a Shallow N - can someone confirm that? And I'm actually unclear on what dates the Shallow N was made: 1869-1872?
That's a nice coin! It reminds me of an off center indian I once had, it was given to me by my Grandfather, being young and dumb I sold it, for FAR below what it was worth. I have regretted it since. Your coin looks to be a shallow N, this narrows down the dates your coin could be down to 1870, 1871 or 1872.
I still need a dated off center Indian cent, then I will have a complete small cent off center type set.
@Coins4Eli - Thanks for that graphic! I didn't know (or long forgot) that the styles of the E's are different. Definitely a Shallow N then, and a super rare string of dates for errors. Can't wait to have it in hand to see if that's a die crack at the tops of AME - maybe that's diagnostic to a particular date. And maybe that lost coin long ago fueled your life-long hunt? Sad that it go away for sure though.
@Evan8 That small cent off center collection sounds pretty amazing. You can get pretty deep into it - the new designs - that off center flying eagle. Look forward to seeing it someday.
Worn but a very nice off center coin. You can tell by this coin that circulation problems were present in the economy back then.
@Pickin and Grinin it's ANACS VG8, cleaned. Who might have sold one? Or, what's your take on the obverse?
I would expect stronger dentil's . The grade should also raise a couple flags, the reverse doesn't show near the wear.
@Evan8 that's beautiful! I haven't been able to afford/find an off center Flying Eagle, so I settled for one with a massive misaligned die (the obverse is perfectly centered).
I found the date of the undated Indian in my OP here! It's an 1865 fancy 5. I matched the die crack in mine to this particular variety. Took a few hours to search every single year from 1864-1872 (which contains ALL the dates of the shallow N on the reverse).
Excellent work! But I'm confused -- I see various sources talking about the shallow N occurring only in the early 1870s, but it's also a well-known diagnostic for the 1877 (business-strike 1877 cents almost all have the shallow N). So I don't know WHAT years could (or must) have the shallow N.
@-jeffB The confusion comes because 1870, 71, and 72 all had bold and shallow N varieties, until they moved to the bold N for the rest of the series, except 77 as you mentioned. But pre 1870, including both bronze 1864 issues, they all had the shallow N. So the complete list of Shallow N dates: the Bronze 1864 through 1872, plus 77.