Owner Comments:
Many curious and perhaps undiscovered varieties away the collector for this date. 1875 is probably the most available early date after 1866 and 1874. Although somewhat scarce overall, nice XF/AU examples do come on the market occasionally. Difficult in Gem.
The ferns on the reverse are all generally the same for all 1875 coins, even the 4 berry varieties. A couple 1875 YB's have been reported, but to my knowledge they are all crude counterfeits.
Minor Varieties:
Flatt's listing:
1. 4 Berries 7/6, very slight trace of B by J
1. 4 Berries, Y . J intermediate width, clashed dies
3. 3 Berries, very wide initials Y . J
4. 3 berries, small superscript o
5. 3 Berries, large superscript o, Roman 1
6. 3 Berries, large superscript o, Roman 1, clashed dies
7. 3 Berries, 1875/5, very wide initials Y J
I will leave Flatt's listing intact, and offer my own findings:
My listing:
1. 4 berries, small superscript o w/short bar, Med-Large DE, YJ Close, 7 Low in date, Perfect Left Ribbon on Wreath
2. Same as #1 on reverse, but over an overdate, 1875/65? No obverse image of coin seen.
3. 3 berries, small superscript o w/short bar, Large DE, YJ Intermediate, "Fat date" w/Low 7 8 and 5 recut, Left Ribbon short with prongs (close to 4)
4. 3 berries, small superscript o w/short bar, Large DE/DE, SO may be over something, YJ Intermediate, 1875/18 First 1 touches leaf, short ribbon with prongs (seen 2)
5. 3 berries, small superscript o w/long bar, Regular DE, YJ Wide, Close Tight Date, Left Ribbon longer but not perfect
6. 3 berries, small superscript o very close to long bar, Regular DE, YJ Intermediate, 7 lower than 8 and 5 in date, Almost Perfect Ribbon
7. 3 berries, large superscript o w/short bar, Regular DE, YJ Intermediate, 1875/187 Low 7, Left Ribbon very short
The Key things to look at are:
1. Is the upper left berry present or missing
2. How big is superscript o and bar
3. Is DE large or small
4. Close, intermediate or wide YJ (Intermediate YJ, the leaf is pointing at the J, in the Wide, it's under it.)
5. The left ribbon coming off of the wreath on the reverse.
Availability:
G-VF: Somewhat scarce
XF-AU: Somewhat scarce, but come nice when available
60-62: Somewhat scarce
63-64: Rare
65+: Rare
Population Report (Jan 2015):
NGC: One in 53; One in 62; One in 65
PCGS: One in 65
Total at both services: 4; 3 in Uncirculated; Two in Gem
Value Guide:
1972 Almanzar/Seppa:
Initials wide: F: 1 VF: 1.50 XF: 3
Inials close: F: 7 VF: 12 XF: 20
Current KM:
Normal Date: VF: 7 XF: 13 UNC: 57.50
1875/65: VF: 9 XF: 17 UNC: 62.50
1875 YB is unpriced. KM has added the superfluous addendum: "Engraver's initials RB appear left of shield on reverse". Well, all the early dates do!
Auction Results:
Ebay 2/6/2013 Looks Choice AU with nice luster, but a couple rim dings and described: "XF detail remaining with light toning and residual accumulation of contamination." $11.50 (WP)
Ebay 4/10/2013 My coin, raw, sold for $49.99 (Yes, I paid a bit more for it in an MS 65 holder!)
Ebay 7/28/2013 Looks MS 62/63 $10.99 (WP) Cheap!!!
Ebay 2/4/2014 XF/AU Looks nice $13 (WP)
3/26/2014 Pretty AU $37.99 (I bought this coin)
Ebay 1/6/2015 Choice AU+, extremely clashed dies, $46 (I bought this coin.)
Set Specimen:
A true Gem. My variety #3. Strong rolling luster glitters underneath totally original toned fields. Field marks are at a minimum, the strike is only slightly weak. Tied for Top Pop with one other 65 at PCGS. Next highest coin is a 62 at NGC.