1890 Indian Head Cent Doubled Die Obverse FS-101 Snow-1

Description

Cross-referenced as FS-101 and Snow-1 in the major attribution guides, this 1890 Indian Head cent features a Doubled Die Obverse where the doubling manifests as tripling visible in the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA — three overlapping impressions of the obverse legend creating a more complex and visually dramatic displacement pattern than simple doubling. The tripled lettering indicates that at least three hub impressions were received during the die manufacturing process with at least two of them displaced relative to the first, each successive impression adding another layer of offset letter images to the legend inscription. The Fivaz-Stanton FS-101 designation in the Cherrypickers' Guide and the Snow-1 primary position in Al-Azhar Snow's Indian Head cent variety reference both confirm this as the most significant doubled die obverse documented for the 1890 date — a combined ranking that places it at the top of collectors' search lists when examining 1890 Indian Head cents. The Indian Head cent was designed by James Barton Longacre, featuring Liberty wearing a feathered Native American headdress on the obverse and an oak wreath with shield on the reverse. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1890 in 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc, the coin weighs 3.11 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. The 1890 Philadelphia mintage of approximately 57.2 million pieces provides a reasonably large surviving population from which tripled-legend specimens can be identified. Doubled die obverse varieties on Indian Head cents from the 1890s were created during the hubbing process when the hub impressed the die at slightly different positions during the multiple impressions required to fully transfer the design into the working die steel, and the tripled legend on this variety makes it one of the more visually accessible doubled dies for collectors examining coins at shows, shops, or from roll searching.

Attribution History

• FS-101, Snow-1