1969 D Over S Lincoln Cent

[Julesie4558]

Hello

From the very first time I looked at this coin I have always seen an S mint mark. Most people have told me it's not possible, but I believe it's a D over S and I would love to have some of your opinions!

There is one photo I've included that is out of focus but I've done that on purpose so that you can "see the forest, through the trees" . ..

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this coin

[mustbebob]

It does not appear to be an S mintmark. Although burring the photos does give the illusion that it is an S...that's exactly what it is, an illusion. My first concern is the massive amount of hits and circulation damage. My first thought is that the mint mark has damage. There are some RPMS where the curve on another D sits close to the primary D. I was thinking about RPM-005 being a candidate, but the mintmark position is wrong. We will leave this for other opinions as well.

[MintErrors]

Hello

From the very first time I looked at this coin I have always seen an S mint mark. Most people have told me it's not possible, but I believe it's a D over S and I would love to have some of your opinions!

I personally don't see a solid candidate for an S over D. I am not feeling the love on this one. BUT there are PLENTY of varieties out there to cherrypick. You just have to keep trying.

OK, OK,

IF I thought there was such a beast, This is what I would do.

Head over to VarietyVista at this link:
http://varietyvista.com/25%20What%20...k%20Styles.htm

The above link gives you a look at a good majority of Denver mintmark styles that existed for many years.

NOW compare that to the potential type of "S" that was used in 1969. That "ghostly like "S" will have to come in awful close to one of the "S" candidates of the ""S" mint from the list below:

http://varietyvista.com/25%20What%20...k%20Styles.htm

I am not saying it is impossible - But it's I think it is improbable.

This past year, I was fortunate enough to find and shortly afterward sold two of the better over mint mark (OMM) Lincoln Cents. Let me share with you how these actually look. It took me some time to take photos and I did so knowing that a client was going to snap these up as soon as he saw them and he did.








One thing we have to account for is the size difference between the "D" and the "S" mintmarks. In MOST cases
that I have experienced, the "S" is simply much bigger than the "D".

There are a few scenarios that might create an illusion of an "S" on a Denver minted coin. Some times the mint workers
may have added too much UMMMMF into adding a mint mark. It actually dents the surface or field area (the flat area of the coin) as the mint mark is driven into the working die. this leaves almost a ravine or pit around the mintmark and in the light it can give the impression that something else is going on with the mintmark, but in reality, its simply a dent around the mintmark. I will attempt to find one and add it to the post, but I'd be Easter egging until next year since I have no clue what box to look in, nor which safe at the storage unit.

In order for this to have even a smidge of a chance to be an D over an S there should be some distinct portion of that "S" that is raised.

It could be slightly probable that the mint worker grabbed the wrong mint mark and lightly tapped it on the working die for positioning and then realized, RATS its the wrong mintmark. BUT again, over time and wear this would eventually fade.

Weigh in the condition of the coin. if this is a ghostly style "S" the image probably should have worn off a long time ago.

Looking again at your photos I agree with Bob, there appears to be enough other stray marks and issues associated with this coin that it will over time appear to look to be what it is not.

IF, IF this was the case and there was a 1969 D over S OMM out there I am SURE some one else would have pulled a gem mint one out of their collection and had it documented quite a while ago.

I usually do NOT share how I occasionally get a load of RPM's to the general public, but I will share one method here. I collect strictly BU copper Lincoln cents. One method I do is visit Ebay and I look for rolls of cents anywhere from 1940 to 1964. I won't buy from another dealer. I will look for a seller that sells coins on occasion, but their focus is mainly on dishes, plates, toys, goldfish bowls etc. What I am trying to say is I try to buy the D and S mint mark rolls from people who may not know the rolls have varieties and errors in them. A few good years to try are the 1959-D and 1960-D and 1961-D since there are SO many rpms in those and the 1960-D may even have a few DDO's to find as well.

I do uncirculated coins to avoid the potential issues that come with the circulated coins, and having to come up with a logical brainstorm of why this coin is or is not a winner.

Keep up the good communication. Your searching the right way. Let us hope you hit a winner and you can say WOOOHOOO !
woohoo.gif

[Julesie4558]

Thank you so much for taking the time and explaining all of that!
I totally agree with the buying of uncirculated. When I'm in a better position in life for this hobby,that will be the path I will choose to go down

The majority of the coins I have were my Papa's who I never got the chance to know, but he was a marksman in the War and spent the rest of his life after that in a wheelchair because he lost both legs. I just feel like he didn't spend all those years collecting without there being some sort of method to his madness. So when I see things like on this coin. My mind probably automatically assumes greatness! But hey at least I won't let anything slip past me Plus each post I learn something new

[MintErrors]

I want to offer a good reference, but I am not sure how many copies are still available out there. The book's name is:

The Error Coin Encyclopedia (second Edition) by Arnold Margolis.

It explains things in great detail, enough to get a basic grasp on how coins were minted.

I do not see an ISBN number on it, but there is a "Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 91-90288"

The Dust jacket front shows a plaid line pattern, and at the bottom center, an off-center Morgan Dollar.

There are 426 pages, and book size is 9x6 inches.

Cheapest version I see is 50 bucks ....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255033370181?hash=item3b612c6645:g:XCIAAOSwKtRgZ9bB

I have never dealt with this seller, so I cannot speak on his reputation.

[Julesie4558]

Thank you