Anyone else see something unusual here?

JRocco · Veteran Member

I know that I am not seeing what it looks like I am seeing, but this sure does look to be a nice strong trace of a stray " 7 " hiding underneath the 5 on this 57. If anyone else has this variety can they take a look to see if this little anomaly may appear on their example also?
Thanks.

coop · Expert Member

Looks like a die crack to me. I checked the Wheat Clash overlay and there is a part of the wheat that is in that area.

But the lower part of the mark looks like it turns, so it is probably just a crack. But check in other area of the field that might line up with the devices on the image provided. It could be part of a clash?

Bob P · Site Admin

It sure does look a bit like a 7 doesn't it? I have seen this before though, and it is actually die damage. The specimen I saw also had some of this damage next to the bust, under the 1 of the date but it was such a late die state, that it was much more noticeable than this one.

Dick · Expert Member

If it is NOT a clash, It is very close to the mark!
Re Bob's comment, I have one that has the "E" of one, just between the Vest, and "1", of the date. Definitely a clash. I don't know which box it is in, so no photo, (at this time). Maybe I'll remember after this third box, for Chuck.
Dick

rollmeupabe · Veteran Member

Another possible answer may be "dropped letters". Chuck gave me that answer on a peculair 1947P Lincoln which had the numbers "19" engraved on Abe's head.

Chuck explained the die may have been building up grease / junk in the 19 of the date. At the point my coin was being minted the grease filled die jared loose the debris and it landed on the head of the coin as the planchet was being struck.

Bob P · Site Admin

I don't know if a dropped letter is the answer on this particular one. Here is a nice example of what a dropped letter looks like.

I am still pretty sure it's die damage. Dropped letters wouldn't show on very many coins anyway.

Ziggy9 · New Member

now that we've discussed all that ...what's up with the mint mark?
Richard

Bob P · Site Admin

Ziggy,
The mintmark is an RPM and was discussed in another thread. For your info though in case you are curious, this one is 1957D-1MM-003.

http://www.coppercoins.com/lincoln/diestate.php?date=1957&die_id=1957d1mm003&die_state=mds

walkingdude · Veteran Member

Dick · Expert Member

Mike, I believe you would have to get a whole lot of coins, that would show the missing lette, or nimber. It occurs on all denominnations.. See some of the 2003, '04' and '05 for the "missing date, or part of it.
Dick

walkingdude · Veteran Member

True,
What I meant was if you found the coin Bob posted and the coin the letter came from would it look like damage. This would really apply to the zinc cents on what it would look like.

Bob P · Site Admin

Mike,
The actual dropped letter, is not a letter at all. What it is is debris or something else that has filled the letter cavity.(remember that the die is incused). As it is continually struck, the debris falls out and is then struck on a subsequent coin. You will probably never be able to tell which die the filled letter came from as the 'evidence' is now missing. The dropped letter debris would most likely be ejected unless it sticks to the die. If it does stick, it is likely that more examples of the same dropped letter damage could be found on subsequent strikes until the debris is destroyed or ejected by the process.

coop · Expert Member

Looks like a reverse R? Seems like other letters would have shown if this were a transfered from another coin. So it must be what you said.

walkingdude · Veteran Member