Obverse
13 is observed with date placement at B. Obverse 13 has become
bulged in the center and has developed the following die cracks: 1.
Radial die crack from the denticles at 1:15 downward into the
fourth feather. Two die cracks develop from the aforementioned
die
crack extend to the tops of OF 2. Radial die crack from the denticles at 4:15 through the C of AMERICA and terminating within the lower hair curls. 3. Heavy radial die crack from the denticles at 6:30 through the 1 of the date and into the portrait. 4.
Die crack from the denticles at 9:30 through NITED of UNITED.
Radial die crack from the aforementioned die crack extends into
the field toward the nose of Miss Liberty. A third die crack
extends from the previous radial die crack and connects the tops of
STATE of STATES and terminates into the denticles at 11:15. 5.
The die crack from the denticles at 11:45 forms a die break just
below the denticles. The crack continues from the die break and
extends to the tops of the first two feathers. Yet another die
crack forms from the aforementioned die crack and connects the bottoms
of STATES, where it will intersect the radial die crack of #4.
Reverse Q is rotated 7 degrees clockwise.
Comments: The
shattered obverse of variety 17 has been known for many years and was
given the moniker 'lightning bolt variety' by Rick Snow.
Obverse
13 is observed with a bulging center, due to the the working die
sinking as a result of the radial die cracks converging towards the
center. The bulging will give the effect of wear in gades of XF
or below; therefore, grading criteria should be based on separation of
the hair curl from the ribbon with diamonds for XF examples and
remaining detail for grades lower than XF.
Obverse 13 was previously paired with reverse P during the variety 16 die pairing.
