1979D lincoln no FG

[mojaveblue]

Does this look like an original missing Frank Gasparro? Or do you think that it has been worn down through the ages?
I included a shot of the closest lettering "CA" in "AMERICA".

It is in pretty bad shape overall.
Thanks for the opinions.

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[coppercoins]

This is a simple case of die wear. There are no "genuine" examples of any Lincoln cent missing initials - as in "the die never had the initials - genuine". They are all worn dies and none of them are really special in any way.

[mojaveblue]

Ok, thanks.
In some of your advice, I think you mentioned books. Which books would you recommend for Lincolns, I have seen several from some well known people, I think like John Wexler.

Phil

[eagames]

This is a good book to start with:

http://www.coppercoins.com/book_order.php

John Wexlers books and the CPG are also good choices.


As far as worn or over-polished dies it's not clear-cut but for the most part I ignore most of them unless it's so dramatic that I say WOW.

If you look at old coin magazines you'll find adds selling "no FG" cents like the 1983. I'd say most of it was hype, most of them will never amount to much.

Some bigger ones made it big. The 22 plain cents and the 3 leg Buffalo 5C and the "no FG" Half dollars are the same thing. These are worn or over-polished dies. The well known ones get good prices.

I really don't care for those, of course I'd be happy to find one LOL. Some people call them varieties but I consider a "die variety" to be something on a die when it was made. A worn die is more like a die state and I don't lump them in with the "die varieties" that I collect even if people call them "varieties".

Everyone is different so some collectors love them. The 3 leg and the 22-P are in the Red Book so they have a market. The one's not in the Red Book have a more limited market.

[coop]

The last image is a classic view of die flow/wear. Just a very old VLDS die state.

[mojaveblue]

Thanks, yep I placed an order for your book Chuck, the 2004 edition. Do you have plans (time) for a new edition?
And I agree with your reasoning surrounding die wear/states, not really being able to call the resulting coin a variety. It makes sense.
But Ill hold onto this one, possibly for the kids in 20 years, as a curio.

[coop]

Coins like these are good educational pieces for new comers.

[mojaveblue]

Depending on the site limitations of photobucket, I can keep the images on there for as long as it is of use for the forum.
I also have the larger images from the initial shot, I size them down to what looks good on the forum with 1280X768 screen resolution.
You're up early Coop.