To find the main varieties the following system, based on line prolongation, has been adopted:
Draw a straight line along the outer vertical stroke of the final "E" of "THREE" and note its position with regard to letters "D," "S" and "T" of " UNITED STATES." This establishes four main groups or classes.
Class I.—The line runs to the left of "S" of STATES.
Class II.—The line passes through "S."
Class III.—The line touches the upper bar of "T" to left.
Class IV.—The line runs through centre of "T" or beyond it.
I, II, III, IV
The varieties of this die are, furthermore, plainly differentiated by the size of the letters used for the inscription. There are three sizes:—very tall letters, medium size, and decidedly small letters.
Even a cursory observation reveals various shapes of the letter "C" of "CENTS," and "D" of "UNITED." Likewise, the spacing between the words and the distance from the words to the circles containing the numerals of value vary considerably.
Formerly the existence of a broken circle at the side was chronicled as one of the most noteworthy varieties, but this feature is of little value. The philatelist may, however, be interested to hear the opinion of Messrs. Tiffany, Bogert and Rechert: "We have concluded that only two varieties are worthy of a place in our list. The others, though existing, are too minute to interest the average collector."
The above statement only proves that Horace is right when he assures us "Quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus." Now and then the best experts are asleep! In the writer's opinion all the varieties of the three cents rose cannot fail to interest the collector, and no two can be singled out as being of more or less importance.