The relationship between 1969S and 1970S Lincoln Cent reverse

[signofthedimes]

1969S Lincoln Cent reverse had two types of stairs. Regular every day stairs, and stairs which looked like someone scribbled lines from end to end, incuse lines.
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The type 2 stairs carried over onto 1970S cent, and was its only primary type.

There was something else which bridged these two years also.

The earlier nicer 1969S cent occasionally showed a tilt doubling on the left upper Lincoln Memorial. There was also a tilt doubling to the second upper Lincoln memorial space between pillars. One 1969S shows it’s pillar design lines sat higher on the seating than they should have. Which would explain the tilt relationship on the outer and inner Lincoln Memorial.

Two 1970S Lincoln Cents show that same #2 pillar with what I guess I’d have to say coincidentally seems to be a replacement, which still retains the outer and inner tilt, which would have coincided to tilt there if this one area was indeed targeted during hubbing. I see some good evidence to show there was some targeting.

Two 1969S below.
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3 of one single 1970S below.
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One of the second 1970S
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[signofthedimes]

More provenance of modification sees two early dies 1969S and 1970S each treated to dilute acid dips for a frosted appearance. These die devices do not last very long. Most say about 100 strikes for the most Cameo proofs.

I tend to believe this was an obvious OTHER modifying. The wideness of incuse lines, as well as a replacement.

Since the replacement is including original doubling of a tilt seating of upper pillar #2, when the stair lines were wide, 1969S, we have a hub doubling, then are not wide during that double hubbing. But the double hubbing has to be said to include the wide line stairs if the tilt originated with the wide line stairs 1969S. I wouldn’t then argue that the aim of modification replacement of the upper pillar #2 didn’t include the wide line stairs but end with modified (also) stairs.

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[occnumis2021]

what is interesting about those re-rengraved steps is that for them to be sunken on the coin, they have to be raised on the die which leads me to believe they were done on either a master die or hub.

this sort of thing isn't exactly common but for sure it isn't rare. "re-touching up" of devices probably goes across all denominations and also back a long time.

we see all kinds of wild stuff done to dies/hubs in the morgan series, some interesting stuff on large cents etc.