1847 Braided Hair Cent--Obverse Die Cap--MS-63 BN (NGC). This dramatic piece really needs to be seen to be appreciated. Starting out as a normal strike, this coin failed to eject from the press and, instead, gradually wrapped itself around the obverse die during subsequent strikes. The authors of the <em>100 Greatest U.S. Error Coins</em> book estimate that this large cent remained stuck to the obverse die for 10 to 15 additional strikes, each subsequent impression causing full brockage errors with its reverse and deepening the cap to the point where one can easily see why errors of this type were referred to as "bottle caps" in past decades.<p>The obverse detail is crisp in all areas save for where the error has resulted in minor distension to a few of the peripheral features. Close inspection with a loupe reveals concentrations of die lines (as made) along Libertys throat and, especially, along the curls at the back of the head. These features identify the 1847-dated obverse that was only used in the Newcomb-35 pairing. The reverse impression has become flattened and distended due to multiple strikings while the coin capped the obverse die, although the (rather large!) denomination ONE CENT remains legible and much of the wreath is discernible. Warm medium copper and rose-brown patina throughout, the reverse is smooth overall while the obverse exhibits only a few minor marks on Libertys cheek and at the lower right border of the struck portion. Only six to eight obverse die caps are known on Braided Hair cents, and this 1847 is certainly the most desirable due to both the depth of the cap and the level of preservation. Extraordinary!
