1878 S New Die Pair with Denticle Clashing?

[twohawks]

I just won this thing and I have the Obverse Die being that of the 1878 S V-42a. The main factor being is the die crack running from the Neck Point to the rim, few 1878 S coins have cracks on the Obverse and after looking over the SSDC photos that are viewable I am about 99.9% sure, The reverse has me scratching my head, the clashing or what ever it is inside the letters so PMD is not the case. It somewhat looks like impressions on the V 17 group but non of them have anything inside the D of Dollar.

[CascadeChris]

They kind of look like the meteor shower gouges

[vampicker]

Those marks are plated in Leroy's 78-S guide as VAM 42, They're irregularly spaced. The effect is kinda like shrapnel.

[twohawks]

Thanks, I have a V-42 without them and the photos of that coin are the VW 42 coin photos, and the MS 62 PL that can be seen in the SSDC Heritage photos also lacks them. That's kind of where my question comes from.

[vampicker]

Yeah, these come with and without the gouges. I'm not exactly sure where this stage fits in the progression. I see some cracks and polished out clashmarks on your example.

[vampicker]

Same engraved feather, right?

[twohawks]

Yes, its the same rev. die and its a clashed ST. But unlike the one that is see on the V42 page and that was my coin as are the photos it did not have the impressions. THE What they are or what caused them is what interests me.

[78-sLongnock]

We can start with San Francisco Maddens Part ll ! 1878 style
Here are the Rev pics of the ANACS 63 42A discovery piece & another PCGS 63 piece (sorry this holder has scratches in key area of concern)
Both have the same OB clash in V, same S mint mark location &. Same engraved feather.
but Russ’s piece and this second piece have denticle gouges & crack making them LDS of the
Vam 42A. I believe this area of research work was covered in VW 1.