It is evident that we now possess various means for the classification of the three cents die varieties, but a system based solely on a line measurement, as has been stated heretofore, would not guard the collector sufficiently from acquiring a number of the same dies, due to unavoidable mistakes of measurement. To prevent duplication of dies it is imperative to know the various heads. Luckily the distinctive features are quite plain and it is easy to divide the heads into five classes for, as in the first issue, the die cutters have adorned the head of Washington with a variety of coiffures. In Heads 1 and 2 there is a _triangular open space_ between the middle bunch of hair and the lowest strand which meets the queue. [Illustration] [Illustration] HEAD 1.--The queue consists of three vertical strands extending from the top of the head to the neck. Next to the queue are 3 rear locks, of which the middle one is a large, pear-shaped bunch, consisting of five fine strands, while the second highest is by far the longest, and cuts into the queue, resembling the stem of a pear. HEAD 2.--Same as Head 1, but the second lowest strand of hair in the pear-shaped bunch is the longest and does not extend into the queue. The triangular space below is slightly larger than in Head 1. HEAD 3.--The queue consists of either three or four strands which extend from the top of the head to the neck. Next to the queue there are five locks in the rear row, the arrangement of which differs in the various specimens. The _main_ feature of Head 3 consists in the _absence of an open space_ between the middle bunch and the lowest lock. HEAD 4.--The queue consists of three strands which extend from the top of the head to the neck. The back row of hair consists of five locks of which the lowest is very small and runs almost perpendicularly into the queue. There is a small space between the perpendicular lock and the next lowest. HEAD 5.--Generally found on the second quality of buff paper. The queue consists of three strands, which extend from the top of the head to the neck. The main feature is the middle bunch of hair, which is oblong shaped and consists of three heavy strands, all of which slant diagonally into the queue. Immediately below this bunch is the lowest small lock, which also slants diagonally into the queue. Of the five heads, the first is certainly the one which is most commonly found; especially on amber paper. Knife 1 is always Head 4. Head 3 is less common, and Head 5 is most frequently found on the second quality buff paper. It is also useful to remember that Head 5 appears on Knife 11. The subsequent table gives the knives and heads of the three cents, Rose:--