1988 Transitional Reverse Cent

[Car10]

Here is the Philadelphia version

Thank you, Dr. Wiles, for all your help, not only in geting it attributed and certified but in finding it in the first place. If I had not seen the Variety Vista website I wouldn't have known of it's existance. Thank you, thank you THANK YOU!!

[Steven]

Car10,
Found 88D in S/E Missouri searching circulated rolls.

Steven

[Car10]

Thanks Steven.
F.Y.I.
I just, this afternoon, got in the mail a coin I had sent to Dr. Wiles for attribution. It is a 1989 Lincoln cent with RDV-005(reverse style of 1988). He said that it is a NEW LISTING. Another one for us to BE ALERT for!

[AgCollector]

Thanks Steven.
F.Y.I.
I just, this afternoon, got in the mail a coin I had sent to Dr. Wiles for attribution. It is a 1989 Lincoln cent with RDV-005(reverse style of 1988). He said that it is a NEW LISTING. Another one for us to BE ALERT for!

Wow, congratulations!

[Car10]

Thank you sir.

[wavysteps]

Agcollector - Sounds like the MINT was free wheeling at the end of that decade.

Conratulations on a great find. Now all we need to do is find the 1989-D mate and we will be all set.

BJ Neff

[AgCollector]

Agcollector - Sounds like the MINT was free wheeling at the end of that decade.

Conratulations on a great find. Now all we need to do is find the 1989-D mate and we will be all set.

BJ Neff

Yes, the mint certainly wasn't as careful as it could have been. But if they were more careful, it wouldn't be so much fun looking through cents!

[AgCollector]

Thanks Steven.
F.Y.I.
I just, this afternoon, got in the mail a coin I had sent to Dr. Wiles for attribution. It is a 1989 Lincoln cent with RDV-005(reverse style of 1988). He said that it is a NEW LISTING. Another one for us to BE ALERT for!

Not to be a pessimist, but I just saw the coin on varietyvista and I have to say that my first impression is that it is not actually RDV-005 but rather a RDV-006 with a weak strike with an overly polished die.

You can see in the photos that the "east" side of the coin is not as fully struck, such as in the top of the letter "E" in AMERICA in the first photo.

While the "G" in the designer's initials seems to lack the "flange", the shape of the G is that of the RDV-006 letter and not the RDV-005 letter. In particular, the RDV-005 letter is thinner and taller, and the lower part of the G does not extend much further east than the top of the letter (I've tried to show this with the black line in the first attached photo). Whereas, the RDV-006 letter G is shorter, wider, and the lower part of the G does extend further east than the top (second image).

Finally, I added the same lines to the 1989 cent.

Also, the middle arm of the initial "F" is shorter in RDV-006 and the coin in question appears to have the shorter middle arm.

[Car10]

To tell you the absolute truth, after I had mailed the coin I had feelings of regret at the possibility of embarassment had the coin turned out to be nothing more than an overpolished die. But that is why I sent it to the experts in the first place. I am on cloud nine right now and enjoying it. Please don't kick me off just yet.

[wavysteps]

This should make you happy Car10. Last night at the Central Florida Coin Club meeting, I was asked to look at a 1989 Lincoln cent with a RDV-005 reverse and sure enough, it was the transitional cent. This seemed to be in an earlier die state that the one you have. If I can borrow it at the next meeting, I'll take some pictures and put them on the forum.

BJ Neff

[JamesWiles]

BJ: I would love to see this confirmation piece. Any chance you could put in a good word for me?

[wavysteps]

Hi James - I sure will try. I am pretty sure that the person will be willing to send it to you. Will let you know in about two weeks (our next meeting).

BJ Neff

[Car10]

That IS good news! I'll be looking forward to hearing Dr. Wiles observations. Thanks for the info.

[JamesWiles]

Just a note to update everyone on this variety. I have seen a couple of suspected 1989 RDV-005 cents, but after careful study have concluded that they are die deteriorated, LDS RDV-006 styles. My enthusiasm for a confirmation piece is waning. What I like about Mr. Carten's piece is the total absence of the lower serif of the G. But this could be caused by deterioration/abrasion. What has me suspecting that it is not an RDV-005 is the distance from the building. I have a couple of more "suspects" coming in for examination. I will wait until then to make a final decision on the possibility of removing this transitional from the files.

I appreciate all the effort you guys have put into finding a confirmation piece. Please keep looking and reporting what you are finding. That is the only way we can make an accurate decision.

[3˘nicker]

Bj & james i belive he is talking about the one i let him take and absolutely you can look at it. if it truly is the one that would be awesome. you just never really know. it's funny because they way i recieved that one was while walking a bumish looking guy was walking towards me with a coffee can of pennys. he had said he had like three $ of them and he would trade me for two $bills, i didn't have any cash with me but i told him i'd give him a smoke for a handful which he did. So, i may have broke the case and got what looks so far to be a rare one for a single cigarette.