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This RPM has promise, and I am trying to ensure I get the right attribution. The hard part of these attribution is all the different ways lighting, angles and the effects of shadows can change the appearance of these RPM's.
I believe it is CONECA RPM 016, as this appears to be closest possible example. The LIBERTY is clear no Filled in "B".
http://varietyvista.com/02a%20LC%20R...957DRPM016.htm
I will write this up as best I can, not only requesting a confirmation, but for the newer variety and error collectors might take something from this.
I took a look at this coin under an American Scope microscope. It is a trinocular stereo microscope. In the trinocular port, I have a 16 megapixel digital microscope camera housed that can take photographs of the coins.
The first photo is a photo of what I initially seen. Looking through the microscope, there is much more detail. It just seems a little clearer. The digital microscope has to process the data, pass it from the camera to the PC and the digital software will allow the photo to be displayed on a monitor. In the eyepieces of the microscope I can see a more pronounced, curved lower serif, which is not seen on this photo coming from the digital microscope.
What I am looking at is the top serif, the "point" of the top of the "D" . There is a separation line there that is at a 45 degree angle. That is a sign that this coin may be a re-punched mintmark (RPM). In the photo, you cannot quite see the split lower serif, but in a few seconds, you will.
1957-D CONECA RPM 016-x4c.jpg
Some of us seasoned error and variety collectors will mention to people to turn the coin to see if the lighting will show any more details. What I do is turn the coin, but I always try to orient the photo to one of the compass points (east, west, north or south, basically 90 degree increments). This way, IF I decide I want to have the photo standing up straight like I should, it will be an easy task to do so.
The photo below was taken at a 90 degree angle. I had to maneuver my two (yes two) lights in order to get the correct, accurate effect. Then, using the PHOTOS app from windows, I simply turned the photo to a more desirable orientation. I tried to focus on just the upper and lower serifs in these photos, since that is where most of the attribution process on this coin will come from. There are other things we will look at here shortly.
1957-D CONECA RPM 016-x4a.jpg
Ok, so now we can see we have a nice split upper and lower serif. But that is not all. Take a look at that photo above more more time. Look at the vertical bar in between the top and bottom serifs. The top of that vertical bar is really thin at the top, and gets pretty wide at the bottom. This can indicate if the coin is an RPM, that when the mint worker added a second "D" over the top of the first "D" that the position was slightly rotated. Let me add a few photos to show you what I am talking about.
In the photo below, if you look closely near the bottom of that vertical bar, you can see a separation line. I kinda of cheated in the photo below because I want you to see what I mean. At each of the two arrows, is the base of each vertical bar. This is where you can see how much the second "D" is off compared to the first "D".
In between those arrows is a very slight line that can show you how the two "D's" are rotated on top of one another.
1957-D CONECA RPM 016-vert-bars.jpg
Basically what we have here is an RPM which has two "D's" , both which appear slightly rotated. here is a better idea of how much they are off.
1957-D CONECA RPM 016-x4 cross colors.jpg
Remember, this is a relatively small mintmark. The mint workers who added these mintmarks by hand into the working dies with a punch did a pretty good job of trying to cover their mistakes.
It looks like the primary, stronger "D" is struck slightly clockwise. The weaker "D" appears to be struck slightly counter-clockwise. This will aid in the attribution process a bit, as most attributers will note which direction the Lesser/weaker or first mintmark is placed in relation to the others. (east, west, north, south, rotated CW or CCW or other indicators)
I headed over to https://varietyvista.com and https://coppercoins.com and within those two sites, I was able to find what I think was a match. Again, everyone takes photos differently, and it is vital that the important aspects of the coin in question are photographed as best as possible.
Remember, the area the researchers/attributers show are what should be seen on your coin. The working die which houses the variety or error is metal. It has a specific look to it and only part of that coin, in a very specific area of the coin may be affected. That is why the attributer is showing that area, because it is the most important part of the coin. Your example should match up almost exactly to what you see.
Over time, the die that had the variety on it may become more worn and less or more identifiable features may show up. You should try to find pick up points or die markers on the same side of the coin the error or variety is on because some times, the other die can be changed. So if your coin has a variety on the obverse rely on markers for the obverse and note that the reverse die can be changed. Hopefully, when the CONECA master files are back on line, they will note when if any changes in the dies have occurred. This is usually in the area they have called the DRM or die marriage registry.
Hope this makes sense and Hope it can be confirmed it is a 1957-D CONECA RPM 016, Rotated Counter Clockwise.
1957-D CONECA RPM-016 Obv.jpg
1957-D CONECA RPM-016 Rev.jpg
I believe it is CONECA RPM 016, as this appears to be closest possible example. The LIBERTY is clear no Filled in "B".
http://varietyvista.com/02a%20LC%20R...957DRPM016.htm
I will write this up as best I can, not only requesting a confirmation, but for the newer variety and error collectors might take something from this.
I took a look at this coin under an American Scope microscope. It is a trinocular stereo microscope. In the trinocular port, I have a 16 megapixel digital microscope camera housed that can take photographs of the coins.
The first photo is a photo of what I initially seen. Looking through the microscope, there is much more detail. It just seems a little clearer. The digital microscope has to process the data, pass it from the camera to the PC and the digital software will allow the photo to be displayed on a monitor. In the eyepieces of the microscope I can see a more pronounced, curved lower serif, which is not seen on this photo coming from the digital microscope.
What I am looking at is the top serif, the "point" of the top of the "D" . There is a separation line there that is at a 45 degree angle. That is a sign that this coin may be a re-punched mintmark (RPM). In the photo, you cannot quite see the split lower serif, but in a few seconds, you will.
1957-D CONECA RPM 016-x4c.jpg
Some of us seasoned error and variety collectors will mention to people to turn the coin to see if the lighting will show any more details. What I do is turn the coin, but I always try to orient the photo to one of the compass points (east, west, north or south, basically 90 degree increments). This way, IF I decide I want to have the photo standing up straight like I should, it will be an easy task to do so.
The photo below was taken at a 90 degree angle. I had to maneuver my two (yes two) lights in order to get the correct, accurate effect. Then, using the PHOTOS app from windows, I simply turned the photo to a more desirable orientation. I tried to focus on just the upper and lower serifs in these photos, since that is where most of the attribution process on this coin will come from. There are other things we will look at here shortly.
1957-D CONECA RPM 016-x4a.jpg
Ok, so now we can see we have a nice split upper and lower serif. But that is not all. Take a look at that photo above more more time. Look at the vertical bar in between the top and bottom serifs. The top of that vertical bar is really thin at the top, and gets pretty wide at the bottom. This can indicate if the coin is an RPM, that when the mint worker added a second "D" over the top of the first "D" that the position was slightly rotated. Let me add a few photos to show you what I am talking about.
In the photo below, if you look closely near the bottom of that vertical bar, you can see a separation line. I kinda of cheated in the photo below because I want you to see what I mean. At each of the two arrows, is the base of each vertical bar. This is where you can see how much the second "D" is off compared to the first "D".
In between those arrows is a very slight line that can show you how the two "D's" are rotated on top of one another.
1957-D CONECA RPM 016-vert-bars.jpg
Basically what we have here is an RPM which has two "D's" , both which appear slightly rotated. here is a better idea of how much they are off.
1957-D CONECA RPM 016-x4 cross colors.jpg
Remember, this is a relatively small mintmark. The mint workers who added these mintmarks by hand into the working dies with a punch did a pretty good job of trying to cover their mistakes.
It looks like the primary, stronger "D" is struck slightly clockwise. The weaker "D" appears to be struck slightly counter-clockwise. This will aid in the attribution process a bit, as most attributers will note which direction the Lesser/weaker or first mintmark is placed in relation to the others. (east, west, north, south, rotated CW or CCW or other indicators)
I headed over to https://varietyvista.com and https://coppercoins.com and within those two sites, I was able to find what I think was a match. Again, everyone takes photos differently, and it is vital that the important aspects of the coin in question are photographed as best as possible.
Remember, the area the researchers/attributers show are what should be seen on your coin. The working die which houses the variety or error is metal. It has a specific look to it and only part of that coin, in a very specific area of the coin may be affected. That is why the attributer is showing that area, because it is the most important part of the coin. Your example should match up almost exactly to what you see.
Over time, the die that had the variety on it may become more worn and less or more identifiable features may show up. You should try to find pick up points or die markers on the same side of the coin the error or variety is on because some times, the other die can be changed. So if your coin has a variety on the obverse rely on markers for the obverse and note that the reverse die can be changed. Hopefully, when the CONECA master files are back on line, they will note when if any changes in the dies have occurred. This is usually in the area they have called the DRM or die marriage registry.
Hope this makes sense and Hope it can be confirmed it is a 1957-D CONECA RPM 016, Rotated Counter Clockwise.
1957-D CONECA RPM-016 Obv.jpg
1957-D CONECA RPM-016 Rev.jpg
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