1883 Indian Head Cent Misplaced Date FS-303 Snow-1

Description

Cross-referenced as FS-303 and Snow-1, this 1883 Indian Head Cent exhibits a misplaced date — a partial digit 1 punched into the die in front of the pearls near the base of the Indian's neck, well away from the intended date position. Misplaced dates occurred during the hand-punching era when die makers set individual numerals into working dies using hand-held punches and a mallet. An errant first impression of the digit 1 was driven into the die field before the operator corrected placement and repunched the full date in its proper location. The initial misplaced impression, embedded in the die steel, transferred onto every coin struck from that die. James B. Longacre's Indian Head design, struck in bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) from 1859 through 1909, used this manual date-punching process throughout its entire fifty-year run. The FS-303 Fivaz-Stanton catalog number and Snow-1 designation confirm this as a recognized variety in two independent attribution systems, ensuring demand from collectors working either reference.

Attribution History

• FS-303, Snow-1