Inverted MintMark on this 1945S?

JRocco · Veteran Member

I know that in 1945 the mint used 2 different mintmark styles for the San Fransisco mint. One was the ball serif style, used in 1944, and the other was the new serif style, which uses a ball serif on the bottom and a standard serif on the top.
Well....I think that the workers at the mint were confused with all this crap and that they screwed up a few times and punched in the mintmarks upside down. Now I do not know how common or uncommon this may be, but I believe that this is a clear example of one of their screw-ups....a 1945 S-inverted mintmark. I don't think we are talking value here as I think this is a common occurance for the 1945.
Thoughts?

eagames · Expert Member

Not 100% sure, I go blind looking at the 46 styles.

To me these look like correct ball serif style.

Maybe someone else can add their thoughts.

Smile

GarryN · Expert Member

something is definitely going on there. In both sets of photos, on side of the S is squared off and the other is rounded. In the bottom photo the squared off portion is inverted. So I think one set is upside down.

eagames · Expert Member

This thread shows the inverted mintmark 46-s:

http://www.coppercoins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1658&highlight=inverted+mintmark

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

All you have to do is look at my avatar and you will see an inverted ball serif mint mark. The ones shown at the beginning of this thread are in the correct position.

BJ Neff

JRocco · Veteran Member

Thanks guys,
It is always best going straight to the source Smile

coppercoins · Site Admin

From having studied letter fonts and art for much of my life, I can say with relative certainty that the "intended" orientation of the ball-serif S mintmark punch was for the ball to be on bottom. This is almost always the case with fonts that have a squared and rounded end together on the same letter.

With this to wit, I believe ALL of the punchings were inverted except those we call inverted. Those are the ONLY ones that are actually right side up.

At any rate, when everything made is incorrect except a few pieces, it's the few pieces that are correctly made that gain attention and value. Out of every 100 1946S cents viewed, expect to see 2-3 (on average) ball serif mintmarks, and of those, expect one in a thousand to be oriented with the ball on bottom. This means you could go through an entire bag of 5,000 1946S cents and not see one of the "inverted S" coins. This, folks, is scarce. I still haven't found one and have personally examined thousands of 1946S cents.

Dick · Expert Member

BJ, Chuck, being as you both are in this post, I will ask a question: Is the "trumpet-tail" the same as the "ball-serif? Also, isn't there a third type, (font?)? Seems like when BJ was doing the rsearch for the article in ERRORSCOPE, a couple years ago, I did a search thru the 46-s that I had, and seems like I found three types of MM, (sans 'scope), because it was before I found a need for one). In fact, that was the way I found Coppercoins.com. BJ put me on to it. Now that I have the wheats in rolls, by decade, or date, I want to go back and do another check. Present vision problems, being taken into consideration. Having said this, is it convenient for someone to put the three in large view photos in a post? It would help (me) because I can't see all the letter, (singular), used in the text. Thanks for the info, and anything that might be done in this request. Dick

eagames · Expert Member

Hi Dick,

You're correct.

In 1946 there are 3 types of S mintmarks.
Serif style
Ball serif style
Sans serif style
(4 types including the inverted Ball serif style)

Chuck shows all 3 styles in his book, look at the 1946 section and it has pics of all 3.

(you also might look at the 1946-s rpms on site for examples)

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

Dick The "ball" serif S is sometimes refered to as the "knob tail" S and the serif S is sometimes refred to as the "trumpet-tail" S. However, the easiest way to remember these three mint marks are; serif, sans-serif and ball serif.

BJ

Rhubarb · Senior Member

BJ,

To this date, Do you know if Dr. Wiles has assigned a IMM (inverted mintmark) number? I guess I need to check some roll's.

NICE Find John!

David

coppercoins · Site Admin

Rhubarb - John found normal 1945 cents. Re-read the thread and you'll see what everyone is talking about.

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

David - Yes, the CONECA number is 1c, 1946-S, IMM-001 for the inverted mint mark and Chuck is correct, the pictures posted in this thread are of the normal position mint mark and NOT inverted.

Just a side note; Chuck is not the only one who feels that the ball serif on this mint mark should be on the bottom. Ken Potter also feels this way.

BJ Neff

Rhubarb · Senior Member

Dick · Expert Member

Thanks to all for the replies, ans info. I tend to agree with Chuck, and Ken in that the MM looks more "balanced", in the inverted position. IMHO. Have a nice day!
Dick