1984 D Lincoln Cent Possible New Discovery RPM

[kimbo]

Hi, I found a 1984 D Lincoln Cent that I could use your help to tell me if this is a actual RPM? I showed Joshua from Fun times Guide and he wasn't sure so he sent me here to ask someone who knows more about RPM. I would appreciate any kind of help you can offer. Thanks Kim

[eaxtellcoin]

Kim,
The photo's are not bad. Thank you.. from the close up of the mintmark I think you have a case of localized MD - Machine Doubling. Notice the doubling is flat and shelf like. Look around the rest of the OBV and see if you see any other MD to the East. I can also see the MD within the 8 of the date. The illusion that only the mintmark is doubled is because of wear on the coin. Keep looking, it takes a while to find one but they are out there.
Eric

[MintErrors]

If you are new to all of this, there are at least three websites that offer photos to do self attribution on coins. The trick is, getting the position of the mintmark correct. When they used to hammer in the mintmark into the working dies, it was done by a mint worker with a mallet and a small punch.

position of the mintmark is critical. There are things that happen to these dies, and along with the mm position, you will have markers or pick up points to note. There may be scratches on the die from maintenance, die chips that show up and stick on the die for a pretty long time or other condition that aids the attributer to have these markers assist in the process.

The three websites are:

Http://varietyvista.com

https://coppercoins.com

Https://doubleddie.com

Any questions the coin process, fire away.

[kimbo]

I Thank you both for your information, it is very tricky especially for me as I still have a long way to go, the explanations are great. A lot of the time people will just say "no its not an error" with no kind of explanation as to why and that still leaves me in the dark if I cannot find the info myself somewhere online. The confusing part is that the doubling does look flat shelved as you said but then when I do a close up it looks rounded.Thats the part I get stuck on. Thank you I appreciate your time. Kim

[eaxtellcoin]

Hey Kim, The rounded edge is part of the original strike then the die moved causing the relief to move. What you need to see is a raised portion of the secondary mintmark that is not flat. It should be distinct. secondary element weather a serif and a upper or lower loop or a raised distinct curb. What is raised must also resemble a mintmark possibility. Sometimes a die gouge perfectly positioned around a mintmark can give a raised element that looks like an RPM.
These are very tough to decide without more detail - I.E. a die state that shows more of the secondary mintmark or gouge which ever it is..
Hope that helps..
Eric