1984-D RPM

[Mike824]

1984-D RPM. Opinions needed. RPM or Mechanical? I'm kinda leaning mechanical because the second impression is straight to the right, but there's enough rounding of the first impression to make me think it might be an RPM. And, the mint mark is the only part of the obverse with any doubling. Meaning that if it was mechanical more the devices would also exhibit the mechanical shearing that is often confused with doubling. So, wishful thinking or an RPM?

5794-Obv-1984-D-5c-Jefferson-B.jpg 5794-Obv-1984-D-5c-Jefferson-C.jpg 5794-Obv-1984-D-5c-Jefferson-A.jpg 5794-Obv-1984-D-5c-Jefferson.jpg 5794-Rev-1984-D-5c-Jefferson.jpg

[eaxtellcoin]

Morning Mike, Happy Holidays. This one is MD. Notice just east of the serifs the impression flattens out to the primary mint mark punch. Without a very close looks this one would fool alot of folks. I don't believe this is an RPM.
I would keep it as a very nice example of Localized MD.
Eric

[MintErrors]

In my opinion, a great way to self attribute it would be to look at varietyvista and see if any rpms matching this look and exact placement on the coin were created.

I would say it's not a match. Only one existed for the 84D

http://varietyvista.com/05%20JN%20RPMs/RPMs%201984D.htm

[Mike824]

Thanks Gary and Eric. I was leaning mechanical. Thanks for your insight.

[2fun2Bbad]

I have a question, if the mint marks are hand punched, how does MD occur?

[eaxtellcoin]

Evening 2fun2Bbad,
Yes mintmarks were hand punched into the die until 1989. 1990 all the mintmarks are part of the working die. No RPM's after 1989.
The OBV die strikes the planchet and can move when the REV die strikes the planchet. Causing MD, If the OBV die was not tight in the press..
Hope this helps.
Eric

[MintErrors]

I have a question, if the mint marks are hand punched, how does MD occur?

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The mint marks are hammered into the working dies. They were added after the working die was made. So, once they are part of the working die, and incused or punched into the die, they are subject to the same rules for machine doubling.

Yeah, the mint marks are not hammered onto each coin by hand. That would take decades for one year and mint mark.

Each working die that had a mintmark, the location of that mint mark is key to attribution and knowing what rpm it is, if that mintmark has multiple punching of the mintmark. The differences can be subtle, and some people create overlays of the date and mintmark to ensure they attribute it correctly.

Rpms are my favorite part of the Lincoln cent series. I have a ton of them, most of them being uncirculated and from 1938 to 1972.

[2fun2Bbad]

Thank you for that great explanation