just a question

garylcsr · Veteran Member

Hello all
first post for me in awhile so i will make it good.
I am looking at this 1980 P cent and noticed that the AM is different on it than on the others. here is a pick of two. the top coin is the coin in question
thanks all. I hope i can figure this out so i can sleep lol you know better than that huh?
thanks
Gary

Bob P · Site Admin

Gary,
These pictures appear to be of the same coin. I am looking at all of the surface marks etc. and it appears to be the same.

garylcsr · Veteran Member

thats pretty good Bob lol i missed that.

top coin in question

garylcsr · Veteran Member

I think what I'm trying to get at is the size and shape of the AM.
on the clean coin from the mint set it looks fatter and closer than the regular coin from circulation. it is probably nothing but it reminded me of the close and wide AM even though that is unlikely

Dick · Expert Member

Gary, I think what you are seeing is "trails". check the left edge of the"A", and the "M" as well. both show the marking of the trails. Nice find.
Dick

garylcsr · Veteran Member

I don't see any signs of Trails Dick. it looks kind of like the start of them but only between the A and M. so i would guess that they are not trails

Dick · Expert Member

I see the small indicators on each of the left-hand points on the bottom of the letters: "A, M, E". Both legs of the "AM, and the corner of the "E". Bob, your opinion?
Dick

Bob P · Site Admin

Gary,
I see what you are seeing, and all I can suggest is a nice early die state coin with some nce sharp device edges versus a more worn example.

Dick · Expert Member

Bob, it that typical of shots of proofs? I haven't seen any, so I thought if might be trails.
Dick

eagames · Expert Member

The things Dick mentioned on the corners might be light hitting where the letter meets the field. It does show in the left corners of AME. Both coins are buss strikes, neither is a proof.

Smile

coop · Expert Member

The close AM, the M is to the left of center. On the wide AM the M is Centered, regardless of how close to the A.

Bob P · Site Admin

Dick,
I think what you are seeing as trails is just a lighting effect. Either way, if this is a 1980, it is a very nce coin. I am used to seeing pretty weak strikes on most of them.

Dick · Expert Member

Thanks, everyone, I wasn't too sure, but I am, now! Coop, could you show an example of the "centering"? I'm not too sure about what you mean. Maybe I might recognize one when I see it. Up to now, it has been "Neither, nor"".
Dick

garylcsr · Veteran Member

thanks all
yes it is a nice sharp coin. all the 80's I have seen are mushy or just weak. this one just looked like a close AM to me even though I know It's not. the Proof die on the Buss coin was also a thought but only till i seen that the FG is close to the building.
I think i got what i needed to know anyway thanks guys

coop · Expert Member

All wide AM's are centered. All close AM's the M is closer to the A and further from the E. Nothing new, just look for the centered M or to the left for the close AMs.