Bars under the L of LIBERTY 1915 to 1929

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

I am confident that die wear is not the problem with these "bars" under the L of LIBERTY. The early 1960's Lincoln cents were full of this type doubled die and they all (or just about all) have been found in EDS to VLDS. When I discovered the first one, my thoughts went immediately to that 1960 era.

As it being what it is, John Wexler and James Wiles both agree that this is a doubled die, Class VIII (tilted hub) which fits very nice into this category.

Now, why so many? Like the 1960's, many were found on different working dies and with different mint marks. The same situation occurs here. From what I can ascertain, this started in 1915 and continued up until 1929, so you may get bars under the L on P, D and S minted coins from all those years.

The big question is why did it take until 2006 to discover this bars? I do not know. They were there all the time and it was a simple process of putting two and two together.

Once I get un-busy (LOL), I'll try and get back on this project and see just how many there are of these.

BJ Neff

eagames · Expert Member

I also found an 18-s and 21-s that have a minor bar under the L. So I've found them on 1915-18-21-29)

My guess is people ignored them thinking it's die wear.

An interesting question is what they changed that made it start to happen around 1915 and what made it stop by 1930 then restart again later.

Smile

Rhubarb · Senior Member

My thought is that over time the same equipment was used. It was never upgraded.

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

The cause and effect may have been different from the early 1900's to the 1960's, however, ended in the same result.

We will probably never know the true circumstances surrounding why those bars appeared under the L of LIBERTY and we must be satisfied with what we can imagine did happened.

My hypothesis may have faults concerning the exact cause, but yet it is an educated guess as to the end result, the bars. That is all I can do.

That is what makes this part of the hobby fun; stretching the imagination on how things do occur.

BJ Neff

Copper_Crazy · Member

BJ, Do you have a list of known examples of dates with the bars under the L of LIBERTY? I believe that CONECA only shows the 1915 D (listed by yourself) but I know that you have others that are unlisted. I, myself have a 1917 D and a 1924 D with class 8 doubling on the L. Steve

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

Hi Copper-crazy,

After initially finding the first 1915-D Lincoln cent with a bar under the L of LIBERTY, my searching uncovered these additional examples. 2 more 1915-D (different mint mark positions than the first one found), 1916-S, 1917, 1918-S, 1919-S, 1920-S, 1921-S, 1925-S, 1927-D, 1928-D and a 1929-S.

Oddly enough, these are all Class VIII (tilted hub) doubled dies, however, only the first find is listed in the CONECA, Wexler and Coppercoins' files.

As to the cause, my ERRORSCOPE article concluded that it was a fault of the hub collar and the working hub not being properly fitted into that collar. More than likely it was just that piece of worn machinery (the hub collar) that caused all these doubled dies.

As to why the rest are not being listed? I am not to sure since they are legitimate doubled dies.

BJ Neff