Two-Leaf Reverse
The Two-Leaf Reverse is pictured above. Its wreath has two leaves directly below the “E” in STATES and is the thinnest wreath of the three known LFE reverses. In addition to appearing on the 1854 Coronet Head cent patterns, it is found on 1854 LFEs struck in pure copper (J-163) and those struck in bronze (J-164). The Two-Leaf Reverse was also used in 1855 on the J-172 (copper) and the J-173 (bronze). The coin above is a J-172, which demonstrates a later die state, with die polish marks crossing the fields from 10 to 4 and a worn-down irregular clash mark in the middle of the coin, between ONE and CENT. The other clash marks (one northwest of the “O” in one and the other northeast of the “E” in ONE) have been polished away.
Three-Leaf Reverse
The Three-Leaf Reverse is only found on the copper J-165A and the bronze J-165B, both of which were dated 1854. So few Three-Leaf reverse LFEs were struck that all were likely struck at the same time, thereby demonstrating the same die state.
Four-Leaf Reverse
The Four-Leaf Reverse, pictured above, appeared on the 1855 J-167 and J-168 (copper and bronze), J-169 (oroide), J-170A (copper-nickel) and J-171A (German silver). If the J-170 (80% copper, 20% nickel) and J-171 (60% copper, 40% nickel) are ultimately proven to exist, they would have this reverse. Also, if the 1854 J-165 (copper or bronze) can be proven to exist, it would also have this reverse. The coin in the above image demonstrates an early die state. The clash mark between the “N” in ONE and the four leaves directly above the “N” is not yet present. The clash mark between the “E” in ONE and the portion of the wreath directly east of it is also not present. The last clash mark, which is wavy (created by the eagle’s wing) would be found in and around the “C” and “E” in CENT, but is also not yet present. Finally, the diagonal die chip that would start inside the diagonal and second upright of the “N” in UNITED and continue to the bottom of the “I” in UNITED is not yet present.