Obverse 22 is observed with date placement at B and die file marks
below the last feather.
Reverse AS is identified by die file marks extending from the outer
edge of the right wreath between 2:00 and 2:30.
Comments:
All examples of Variety 23, which number only 4 thus far,
have been struck on copper nickel planchets. I suspect that
some examples of Variety 23 were struck on copper nickel planchets due
to a transitional mint error. I employ the term 'transitional
mint error' because Congrress had passed the Mint Act of 1864, which
included a provision that called for small cents to be struck from
bronze planchets, yet some examples of Variety 23 were struck from
copper nickel planchets. I do not consider Variety
23 a pattern or an instance where Variety 23 was struck from the wrong
metal, even though both copper nickel and bronze were utilzed during
1864. The former statement is substantiated since neither
Obverse 22 nor Reverse AS were struck from proof dies and the latter
statement is tenable since the production press was still set up for
copper nickel planchets and thus an intentional strike, since press
settings for the bronze planchets would require the hammer and anvil
dies to be closer together to accomodate the thinner bronze planchets
and this would have caused damage to the working dies and create press
issues.
