1945 S Red with no designer initials VBD

[BEANCOUNTER]

So found this beautiful red 1945-S Lincoln. During magnification, I noticed the very weak S mint mark. So scrutinized further and noticed there is no designer initials on the jacket. Is this a known error and can you verify from the pictures? If it is a true error, where do I go from here?

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[mustbebob]

We need to remember that the VDB initials on cents are incuse on the coin (raised lettering on the die). This makes them more susceptible to being filled in or worn. They could not have been inadvertently left off during as it is part of the initial stages of making the master dies.

[BEANCOUNTER]

Thanks Bob. I guess I thought it would be an error like the Kennedy half dollar with no FG.

[Kloccwork419]

The “No FG” Kennedy is the same issue, from over polishing the die mixed with late stage dies. You can find the same thing on some Memorial cents with missing initials.

[mustbebob]

There is actually a big difference. As I mentioned, the VDB is raised on the obverse die for the cent, whereas it is incused on the half dollar and reverse initials of the cent. That leaves a raised initial on the struck coin for the half and cent reverse, which can be abraded away. The initials would be incuse or sunk in on the base of Lincoln's coat, so normal wear or even rubbing of coins in a bag could remove the indications of the initials on the obverse coin.