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Unusual obverse on a 1983 Lincoln cent

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  • #1

    Unusual obverse on a 1983 Lincoln cent

    It seems that 1983 had its quirks, especially for the Lincoln cent. With a couple of reverse doubled dies, a bunch of obverse doubled dies, a few pseudo-die clashes, countless die cracks and MDDs, so when I saw this one under the scope, it did not surprise me.



    It appears that the obverse die, although fairly new (EMDS), went through some sort of damage (heavy die clash?). For some reason, it appears that the MINT went ahead and tried to repair the die. Lincoln's beard has been redefined and the ear has developed a notch. The back and front of Lincoln's neck show very heavy abrading, while the rest of the obverse has light to medium die scratches.

    The reverse die, although mushy (probably from being made by a worn working hub) is in the same approximate die state (EMDS) and shows no damage.

    Has anyone else seen this done in modern time minting (post 1900)?

    BJ Neff
    Member of: ANA, CCC, CONECA, Fly-in-club, FUN, NLG & T.E.V.E.C.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    BJ: I don't think the mint tried to repair the die. By 1983, dies were getting to be very inexpensive and easy to make. They would have just scrapped it. Furthermore, since it was in a hardened state, it would have been very difficult for that much metal to be moved around. Are you sure it is a die error and not a planchet error (plating problem, sintered, etc.) or even just circulation damage?
    CONECA 20th Century Die Variety Attributer

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    • #3
      Hi James - While you are correct in saying that die making had progressed to a point that it may have been cost productive to scrap this die, it is apparent that this die was fooled with. The line across Lincoln's jaw is a boundary that defines an area that is a bit higher (on the coin, deeper on the die) that could have been only accomplished by taking metal out of the die in that area. On top of that, the die has been heavily abraded, evident by the many fine die scratches all over the entire obverse, even in the lower points of Lincoln's bust.

      I guess the best thing to do is to send you this coin and see what you think. In hand analysis is always so much better than picture analysis.

      Thanks for your input James, it is always appreciated.

      BJ Neff
      Member of: ANA, CCC, CONECA, Fly-in-club, FUN, NLG & T.E.V.E.C.

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      • #4
        My suggestion is that there was a delamination error on the planchet before it was struck into a coin. I then think that the slightly raised metal of the plating that was raised away from the surface of the planchet was struck down into the surface of the coin pushing it into the direction of the beard and leaving it with that irregular shape.

        Kinda like what happens to pie dough when it is rolled out. The edges become a little distorted.

        Just a thought.

        Bill

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        • #5
          I'm not sure what it is. Close inspection is required.
          Mike Diamond. Error coin writer and researcher.

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