BG-428, Early CSDG weights Options

[Mike_Locke_Calif...]

I just acquired a new (to me) example of BG-428. It is in the apparently rare DSI. It appears to have salt water damage, implying that it might be a Winfield Scott salvage item. Note that my thickness measurements are accurate to 0.05mm.

It measures 0.5mm thick and 0.69 grams, the highest weight reported for this variety.

I have another example in a later die state that also measures 0.5mm thick, but weighs only 0.61 grams. This implies that Nouizillet's later production was alloyed. This one has the faint cracks that close the wreath and decend through 5, as well as minor rim crumbling. An extremely faint die clash creates a bump at the lips of Liberty. The denticles are ever so slightly shorter than on the one above on the obverse and a lot shorter on the reverse. There are faint die polish lines all over the obverse.

A third example in my collection is in a still later die state. The obverse has been polished again, removing the die lines. The rim has more extensive crumbling. An extremely faint die crack joins the last 3 stars. The denticles on the reverse are all but gone. This one measures 0.4mm thick and 0.55 grams.

The differences between these die states is distinct when the coins are carefully compared side-by-side, but does not show clearly in pictures.

It's a small sample size, but appears to clearly show declining weight with die state in 1853.