SF 17G

SF 17G

There are two examples of this coin to show the characteristics for this variety and here is the first:

Example AM03:

2c 1865 Plain 5 “SF 17G”, RPD-006, F12 cleaned.

1865 Plain 5, SF 17G is the name we are using for this already published variety from the Two Cent Book by Kliman(see footnote). RPD-006(KF-P10-RPD) mainly shows a repunched bottom curve of a 6 in the middle of the lower loop of the 6.

This variety has these diagnostics:

Obv:
Date position is level and a little high.
Center of the ball is over the left side of the 6, closer to the outside edge.
The top of the 6 is closesr to the ball than the 8.
The bottoms of the 1 and the 5 are equal distance to the top of the denticles.

 Other diagnostics:

 As mentioned the date shows a repunched bottom curve of a 6 in the middle of the lower loop of the 6. There is a die scratch inside the left side of the U. A die scratch goes from the right side of the left arrowhead down towards the right side middle of the I(N). A defect is seen in the horizontal stripes about hallway up over the 5th vertical stripes.

Some other markers would be visible on a higher grade coin but are not on this example.

A light crack goes through the end of the left arrow feathers.

Rev:

The top left serif of the D has a faint outline showing.

Some other markers would be visible on a higher grade coin but are not on this example.

Reverse is rotated clockwise a little.

The reverse can be identified by some of the cracks. A crack goes through the tops of OF then to the rim near the first A. From the rim to the top of the first A. Crack from rim to tops of MERI and then to rim over left side of the C. Crack thru top of last A to end of right stem. Finally a light crack shows connecting the two ribbon ends to the right stem high up towards the bow.

Die Stage:
In the beginnings of the Mid Die Stages with the current reverse cracks fairly light, and some of the later cracks not present yet.

 

Here is the second example of this variety for study:

Example AM07:

2c 1865 Plain 5 “SF 17G”, RPD-006, XF45 choice

 

This variety has these diagnostics:

As mentioned the date shows a repunched bottom curve of a 6 in the middle of the lower loop of the 6. According to the information in Flynn for RPD-006 there is repunching on the outsides of the 1 and the 8 but on this example in a later die stage it is not visible but may be on a coin in an earlier die stage.

There is a die scratch inside the middle of the U go up to the right.

Another scratch is in the field below the banner with D on it, but is very light on this coin.

A die scratch goes from the right side of the left arrowhead down towards the right side middle of the I(N).

A defect is seen in the horizontal stripes about halfway up over the 5th vertical stripes.

A light crack goes through the end of the left arrow feathers.

 

Rev:

The top left serif of the D has a faint outline showing.

Several radial die lines in the fields below S O. Fading on this later die stage coin they were hard to get a clear picture of.

Reverse is rotated clockwise a little.

 

Die Stage:
In a Late Die Stage with all the cracks present as described.

Obverse: Crack thru the end of the left arrow feather into the fields on either side.

The most noticeable obverse crack is arcing from the lower obverse denticles thru the digits of the date at about quarter height.

Crack thru the tops of IN G and then to the rim between GO.

 

 

Reverse: A crack goes through the tops of OF then to the rim near the first A.

From the rim to the top of the first A. Crack from rim to tops of MERI and then to rim over left side of the C. Crack thru top of last A to end of right stem. A connection crack from above IC to the left top of C.

A crack shows connecting the two ribbon ends to the right stem high up towards the bow.

Crack thru tops of TE to rim over S.

Scarcity: This variety is common and was identified by all three authors of the available reference books, Kliman, Leone(65P-6o1r), and Flynn.

Footnote: Kliman book refers to “The Two Cent Piece And Varieties, by Myron M. Kliman”, Published by Kliman, 1977. The reason the variety begins with the SF stands for Sam Freeman who’s collection was the basis for the varieties described in this book. In the Acknowledgements Kliman writes, “Primarily responsible for this work was Mr. S.W. Freeman of Newport, Ark., whose original research collection and notes were tendered to me for the express purpose of bringing out this work.”

RPD-00# and KF-##-RPD numbers come from The Authoritative Reference On Two Cent Coins by Kevin Flynn, 2011.