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Hoot

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Posts posted by Hoot

    SMS Jefferson Nickels and Full Step Designations

    in US, World, and Ancient Coins

    Posted

    I posed the question years ago to NGC and never received a satisfactory answer, just a shrug. I agree that the SMS pieces of '65-67 should receive the same designations as the business strikes. With only weakly improved hub sharpness and only a single strike for the pieces, SMS nickels are little more than glorified circulation strikes. Moreover, many SMS pieces were released into circulation (I once purchased a roll of 1965 SMS coin in an original bank wrapper dated 1966, albeit possible that it was courtesy of a collector), and many SMS dies were "retired" to the regular coin presses. A lot of fiddling with dies and striking techniques occurred in the period of '65-67, as is evident by inspecting many nickels from the period. I honestly do not think that we have much of a clue about what a circulation strike was (is) or an SMS strike, except with the most evident examples.

     

    Hoot

    MULE or NO MULE? 1959-D Lincoln Cent with Wheat Ears Reverse

    in US, World, and Ancient Coins

    Posted

    "Biggest red flag I see is the fact there is only one example, if this were a mint error surly others would surface..."

     

    A reason to doubt this notion is in thinking of all of the unique mules that came out of the safe deposit boxes in San Francisco (?) California. I do not recall the specifics, but there were a number of reverse-reverse mules, etc. that were unique and considered smuggled out of the Mint. It's entirely possible that a Mint employee made this as a fantasy piece for himself and let it go into circulation just for the sport of it. Perhaps others were made that were not released and still reside in someone's private stash. Only a rigorous analysis will suggest anything concrete.

     

    Hoot

    MULE or NO MULE? 1959-D Lincoln Cent with Wheat Ears Reverse

    in US, World, and Ancient Coins

    Posted

    Since no discernible die characteristics to match the obverse to a known 1959-D die or the reverse to a known 1958 or before die (most likely 1958 or 1958-D) are available

     

    This is exactly the problem. Someone with a lot of time on their hands needs to do an analysis on the dies. This would be exceedingly difficult for a modern coin, but for Denver minted coins, there would at least be a place to start - the mint mark. Since mint marks were still being placed by hand punches at the time, this might be one approach to proving authenticity or lack thereof. The obverse and MM would require comparison with several years. The reverse may be discernable in terms of die state and the subtleties of die fatigue evidence, particularly in the wheat ears.

     

    Personally, I can't imagine doing this. The process would be ugly, at best.

     

    As for the spectroscopy, the only things I'd imagine that would reveal would be that the coin is struck, and that it was struck on a genuine planchet, which would not have been tough to get a hold of.

     

    Hoot