1878 Indian Head Cent Misplaced Date FS-301 Snow-2

Description

Cross-referenced as Fivaz-Stanton FS-301 and Snow-2 in the authoritative early-date Indian Head Cent variety references, this 1878 Indian Head Cent displays a misplaced date — a variety type created during die preparation when date digit punches struck the die in an incorrect position before being properly placed in their intended location. The misplaced impressions appear as date digits punched into the lower denticles below the 78 in the date, evidence that one or more digits were initially punched too low, striking into the toothed border region before the die engraver corrected the positioning. Unlike repunched dates where the correction overlaps the initial impression, misplaced dates leave their errant impressions in an entirely different zone of the die — typically in the denticles or field below the final date placement — creating diagnostic marks that are spatially separated from the finished date. The Indian Head Cent was designed by James B. Longacre, featuring a figure of Liberty wearing a Native American headdress on the obverse and a wreath (oak wreath with shield for post-1860 issues) on the reverse. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint — the only operating mint for this denomination in 1878 — the coin is composed of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. The 1878 Indian Head Cent had a mintage of approximately 5.8 million pieces. During this era, date digits were individually hand-punched into each working die using separate digit punches for each numeral, and the manual nature of this process occasionally resulted in initial placements that fell outside the intended zone. The FS-301 and Snow-2 dual designation ensures this variety is documented in both the Cherrypickers guide and the Snow reference catalog for Indian Head Cent varieties.

Attribution History

• FS-301, Snow-2