IS THE FG HAND SET

[bruce 1947]

Hi All,
I know the mint mark was hand set into the die in the Lincoln cents at one time. However on the reverse of the memorial cent was the FG also set in place by hand, and did they set the F in place and then the G. I ask because I know on the 1973,74, and 75 cents the FG look different as if they each were set in separately.
Thanks Bruce.

[coop]

Bruce: No, it all done in the single/triple squeeze process. Some years have different reverse dies used for them. Sometimes the reverse pattern is changed after a few years. And in 1974 The small and large obverses have different reverses. But they are all hubbed in one step. the master die is created with the FG as well as all details already in place. Only the obverse when they placed the mintmarks is the only time something was added to them. The reverse doubled dies with the bar/wavysteps/angled bars was a hubbing error that created them to look that way. So the entire design was made from the master die to make hubs. Hubs then were used to create dies with all the details in tact.

[eagames]

Like Coop said some years have different FG positions.

There's also an often sold 1983-p variety with no FG but those are really just ones where they polished so much they removed the FG. I have a few 83-P with none and some with just a part of one letter but I would not call them a true variety. There are also some half dollars like that (yep half dollars also have FG on their rev) I think 82 and 83 and they also get sold as varieties and get decent prices but I think are just polished away. I've got an 82-p that seems to have no trace of it at all but on most it's strong but I don't think they are worth the $20 that people sell them for but often they do get that much or more.

[coop]

I bet if we were to include the polished/worn out varieties (actually errors) I'm affraid we would have several collectables to add to the list.
The missing VDB Cents
The poor man's doubled dies
The 1922 plain and weak D
1937 (Mintmark?) three legged buffalo Nickel

I sure there is more.......

[bruce 1947]

Then can you tell me why the "G" has such a tilt to it and the "F" is so vertical was this a lack of quality control on the mints part.

[coop]

Some years have different designs. Some may be hubbed too deep and the planchet doesn't fill the recessed area of the die. Some the fields get cleaned over and over so often the field becomes as low as the lettering. Other dies experience die flow/die wear so bad the letters almost disappear or look like someone scratched them to hard. But if you would compare the EDS dies, we see that they were normal when they started. As the die ages, they look like they have seen a lot of bad road. Metal to metal contact with planchets. Metal to metal contact with debrie. Metal to metal contact with cleaning proceedures. Metal to metal contact with die clashes. All add up to one thing. The die gets a lot of wear and tear because of use. But that is why there were made to take it and keep giving. Who new that collectors would be examining as close as we look with our scopes?

[bruce 1947]

Coop,
Thanks you always make things so clear for me to understand.
BRUCE.

[coop]

Thanks Bruce. Hanging around here does have a side affect. Eventually all your questions will be answered. Keep those question coming as all now and future readers may have the same thing on their mind and it will be answered as this forum information is there for all to read.