Some speculation after reading the new edition of Volume 1, Cherry Picker's Guide.

According to the Cherry Picker's Guide, there are three recognized version of the No D cent. Types 1 and 3 are probably the result of heavy die polishing or filled mintmark, Type 2 appears to truly be a coin that never had the mintmark stamped into the field. Now, the only reason this variety even exists is because 1922 was a year in which only Denver produced Lincoln Cents.

But, and its a big but, this sort of scenario could theoretically exist ANY year since the SF or D mints could have just as easily over-polished their dies, filled their mintmarks with gunk, or simply minted coins with mintmark free obverses in 1940, etc.

OF course since Philadelphia has always produced Lincolns in every other year, The no-mintmark varieties from the SF and D mint will forever be hidden from our consciousness.

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