questions about mint marks

[cnladue]

I am very confused about this entire die variety area.I have been wondering about this since 1968!Why are these mint marks so different on these years?

[cnladue]

both of the s below are 1968-trying to capture a close up of two dates togther is a challange.here are two seperate side by side 69 d with such different looking mm too

[diamond]

If you're referring to the different positions below the date, that's due to the fact that until 1990 the mintmark was punched into each working die by hand. So each mintmark will occupy a slightly different position below the date.

[cnladue]

duh

I guess I should stop obssessing on the mm then!And Mr.Diamond,I want to thank you again for your fast replys and vast knowlage!

[wavysteps]

Just to add some information to this post, you will also find different mint mark styles within the same year. A prime example of this is in 1946, when the Lincoln cent used three different style "S" punches to indicate the originating MINT; the sans serif, the serif and the ball serif (trumpet tail) S. However, like the positioning, this also ceased in 1990, when the mint mark was applied directly to the master die.

And it is quit alright to "obsess" about knowledge; without questions there would be no need for sites like this.

BJ Neff

[atrox001]

For more information reguarding mint mark styles you should check out: http://www.varietyvista.com/mintmark_styles.htm

Larry Nienaber