Watermarks on Coins?

[Here]

I just discovered the oddest thing. I have a 1875S NGCMS62 Twenty-cent piece,

1711636-004. On the obvrese, above the date, along the bottom of the skirt, about 1/8 inches high, about 1/2 inch long, I can make out the letters A9MO. The 9 could be a backwards P. It looks like some sort of watermark you would see on currency. I tried to get a picture, but looking straight at the coin, you can't see it. Room light, and at a slight angle, it jumps right out at you. I see no apparent damage to the coin's surface. Any ideas? Jerry

[truthteller]

Aha! You found out the secret!

 

 

Firstly, is the coin toned or slightly toned or has a patina? The reason, years ago early coin doctors used newspaper print to tone coins, often leaving a reverse image of the newsprint on the coin. Furthermore, years ago people would wrap coins in printed paper to keep the coins together, much like a cheap purse, and store them away for years. Either way, newsprint or inked paper can leave a reverse image of text on a coin.

 

 

TRUTH

[Hoot]

That is very interesting information, truth. Thanks!

 

Hoot

[Count_Erfit]

truthteller,

 

Then the word would be "OMPA" like the middle of the word "cOMPAny" so someone probably used the want ads for the toning.

 

Cheapos! They cudda used some BLANK parts of the paper for the inner wrap.

 

OR......the coin laid for years forgotten by all in an obscure pioneer building of the "WELLS FARGO COMPANY!"

 

I like that one better. Provenance.

 

[Here]

WOW! I can barely make out the a "N" also! It's not toned the way you would want. It's more the darken color from age including the letters I've discovered except when you angle it in soft lite. I'm going to try again to get a decent scan so I can maybe put it up. Thanks,

 

Jerry

[michael]

truth hit the nail right on the head with his answer

 

also many coins that where stored in the older paper you push the coin in ,,,,fold out whitman albums had a piece of paper at the end with information on it and many times coins stored in these whitman fold out albums when the pievce of paper laid across the coin when the album was folded many coins got the printing on the coin backwards

 

just like the twenty cent piece! sometimes you can see this when you really look at the coin many times it is really not too noticeable until you eye catches it after you own the coin for some time while looking at it

 

and then it sticks out like a sore thumb and get worse eveytime you look at it

 

as now your eye sees this

that you never saw before on the coin!

 

really distracting for me

 

 

michael

[michael]

it was always there sticking out but your eye never noticed it

 

when you finally notice it then it is there like a billboard or headlight

 

and happens to the best of us even experienced numismatists

 

this is why many collectors in some ways dread to go to shows as they see a coin in different lighting and settings and buy it only to get home and notice things that are like right in front of their noses so to speak they never saw and regret buying such coins

 

happens lots at auctions with proof coins and hairlines you miss that wispy patch of hairlines in the right fields of that seated coin you where looking at and the coin you thought was superb becomes only a choice coin at best

 

with a huge loss to your pocketbook

 

michael

 

 

 

michael

[Here]

WOW! Michael is right. I got to the point I couldn't look at this coin anymore. My eyes went straight to the lettering, Very distracting, especially after the novelty wore off. SO, I sent it into NCS and they did a magnificent job!!!! The detail now is incredible.

 

 

Jerry

[michael]

good i am glad they where able to remove the ink?? without damaging the coin

 

michael