I've been looking for the "broken arrows" variety for a couple of years now, both on eBay and Collectors corner; I had only run across one raw that had been harshly cleaned, so I skipped it. It is not in the CPG, but us TD nerds find it fascinating. Apparently, a master die was damaged, leading to "breakage" of two of the three arrowshafts on the reverse. Later, the mint attempted to repair this by re-hubbing the master, which created another variety, a DDR used on the 1878-S (that one IS in the CPG). So here it is, with a closeup using the balky digital microscope. Oh ,if you'd like to GTG, please feel free; I'll post that tomorrow evening.
Very cool I like the look of your coin. Very interesting variety. I just bought a 1877 Mini S today variety C-53.1 today reverse die break. Mine Looks about AU-50
Natural window light and under a jeweler light. I am not the best at photos. The finger prints are a little distracting but coin is super nice in hand. Great luster. I may see if they can conserve it at NGC when I send it in.
Please pardon my ignorance. What reference book are you using to attribute the coin as C-53.1? Thanks
I am not sure where it comes from but that is what it is listed under in the SSDC of vamworld and the trade challenge page there. hopefully it is ok to link the trade challenge here http://registry.ssdcvams.com/Trade/TradeChallenge50.pdf
Just spent some time looking through the TradeChallenge50 download, whew! that is an exhaustive survey of the TD varieties. The author notes that the lower arrow on the broken arrows variety was later re engraved, and is much tougher to find. I think I have seen one of those on ebay in the past.
Other than minor obverse rim dings and reverse rim gouge it looks great. Toning is good. I like it, Easy XF perhaps low AU. Thanks for sharing your winner.
Here is 1, 1877-P, I traded for on 7-18-2021 at the Royal Oak (MI) Coin Show, which was the first show I went to after the pandemic. The holder says AU 55. It is now in my safe deposit box
Nice looking 77-P Jim; allowing for some wear yours is better struck than most, often Liberty's head and the upper 3 stars on the right are very flat. Well preserved surfaces too.
Here is a 77-P (PCGS AU50) with about as good a strike as you are likely to see on this particular issue:
Hmm, been a while since I've looked at the enlarged photos, may have to get those green spots checked out!
Thank you for your comments. I had always wanted a trade $, and it was my first coin show since 1971.
That IS a nice looking Broken Arrows. I have seen a few on Ebay over the years. In fact, that's where I got mine, which graded XF40. I think this variety looks best in XF grades - the extra wear wipes out a little more of the arrow remnants making them almost invisible. BTW - I was the underbidder on your coin - you would have gotten it for a little less if not for me!!! Here's mine: