BICENTENNIAL TYPE 1 BICENTENNIAL TYPE 2
OBVERSE
REVERSE
These five pairs of photographs depict the five distinct markers for TYPE 1 and TYPE 2.
In order from top to bottom:
- T1 has a skinnier R with a peg leg – T2 has a fatter and Serif-footed R
- T1 skinnier E, upper arms end square – T2 fatter, arms end slanted
- T1 broad letters, no serifs, R’s legs almost meet, straight right leg
- T2 skinnier letters, serifs, R’s legs separated, curved right leg
- T1 has first “U” of PLURIBUS over first “U” of UNUM – T2 does not
- T1 bottom left of S higher than bottom arm of E – T2 same height
The reason to become familiar with all of these markers? Older dies and a common form of hub doubling can create wider letters and make a T2 reverse look a bit like a T1 reverse.
The “U over U” of the TYPE 1 is the most definitive marker.
For the record, the TYPE 2 obverse relief was lowered and its reverse relief was increased.
There are no known mules. The SB and SP are TYPE 1 while the CP comes in both TYPE 1 and TYPE 2.
The mintages of the CB Bicentennial Ikes in rough numbers:
TYPE 1 TYPE 2
Philly 4,000,000 113,000,000
Denver 21,000,000 82,000,000
All four are plagued with annealing marks (chatter): the Denver T2 is the highest quality CuNi-clad Ike.