1961 D penny

[Purplegirl61]

Hello, I have a 1961d penny that I am not 100% sure is an rpm. (Actually, found a few or so). Woulld like to ask your opinion please. Thank you for your time!

[Kloccwork419]

Going to need a clearer picture than that. Maybe the actual picture and not a picture of the screen

Finding several in 60D or 61D isn’t unusual. There are 100s of RPMs for them years. Try a straight on shot of the date and MM. If it is an RPM we will need to verify the MM position. Hard to do on a rotated angled pic

[MintErrors]

Ooh yeah in order for Us to help, those photos have to be super focused. As Klocc mentioned a good way to know what RPM it might be is the exact position. Most of the will differ slightly, but in the end, please remember that these mint marks were hammered into a metal die. With that being said each person who did these dies did not pick the same exact spot, so it is all about location, location, location.

Variety vista will help you out a lot if you take the time to look each RPM over. You will get a general idea. For example, I personally have over 200 or more of the 1961 D Lincoln cents with a vertical bar located in the center of the stronger D. There are a few different ones, so I will have to look at each and determine if one is a match.

What seals the deal will be the exact location of the D mint mark probably in between the 9 and the 6. Some will be slightly higher and to the right, others may be closer to the 6 than the 9. It takes a bit of patience to figure out which one is a match.

Variety Vista may also show some photos with arrows which could aid in making the attribution process easier. Variety Vista offers photos for each stage, and the extra photo pick up points may differ slightly.

Bottom line with RPMs in as clear as a shot on the date as possible and as centered on the date as possible. RPMs are tougher since the mint mark is typically really small.. the phone may be able to get a decent photo of the mint mark but,, geesh, it takes a lot of patience,. That is why
I opted for a microscope and camera. My life is sooooo much easier taking photos.

[PNWMAKES]

Here is how to take pictures of coins using a cell phone if you don't have a microscope. I use both, a cell phone for full obverse and reverse and scope for up close and personal. Got this insert from Earle42 over at coin help U Coin_Pictures_101.jpg

[Ronald Ozimek]

Thanks for the advice on the cell phone photos! Looks like a great setup for full coin photos. Recent advances in phone cameras make for some nice photos. The camera on my wife's phone is much much better than my Iphone8

[MintErrors]

They sell a less than 10 dollar contraption on amazon that acts as a macro. It attaches to your phone and covers your camera area. You can take detailed photos with that. I cannot attest as to the durability or service of the item, so buyer beware.

I am sooooo glad I opted for a microscope from AMSCOPE. Those are heavy well made and a stereo trinocular scope can cost between 250-300 bucks. No need to go over 80x power because you dont need more than that.