I've GOT to be doing something wrong. I'm about to start to determine the Newcomb numbers for my set. One of the attributes to start with is whether the coin is the Petite Head or Mature Head variety. I cannot find a listing of the dates of each type. Nor a description of each type. And I've got Grellman's book!!! So far it looks like 1843 comes in both varieties. I assume there's an attribute or two that will allow me to determine the difference. Would someone please tell me how to differentiate the two?
Go to the site attached. Go to cents. The AU 58 is a Petite, the MS 60 is a large head. Also, the neck is closer to the date on Petite coins than on Large headed coins. https://www.pcgs.com/Photograde/#/BraidedCent/Grades
1839 and 1840 are the same obverses-petit head 1841 and 1842 are the same obverses-petit head 1843-with 1842 obverse with 1842 reverse-petite head; reverse small letters 1843-with 1842 obverse with 1844 reverse-petite head; reverse large letters 1843-with 1844 obverse with 1844 reverse-mature head; reverse large letters
The petite and mature heads are basically the same head, the real difference being on the petite the head is rotated counterclockwise so the point of the coronet is by star 5 and the point of the bust is above the 8 in the date. On the mature head the point of the coronet is roughly centered between stars 5 and 6 and the end of the bust is over the 1. The point of the curl below the bust is over the 8. The curls below the truncation of the bust are also slightly different. This is a petite head This is a mature head
Thanks so much. Where the crown points will be my key. Somewhere in the musty recesses of my mind that sounds familiar.
