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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,959 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5661 Posts |
I'm having trouble distinguishing between the Type 1 and Type 2 (clear S) 1981-S SBA proof mint marks. What do you think?    |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3467 Posts |
Looks like a Type 2 - Clear "S"
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2270 Posts |
It's not the best picture but it looks like a type I to me.
The type II has the top of the "S" a little farther away from the body of the "S".
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5661 Posts |
I tried taking some better photos of the mint mark. Any other opinions?   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4680 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5661 Posts |
@John1, thanks for the link. I've looked at many photo comparisons and descriptions, and I still can't tell for sure. What do you think?
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Sorry,I can't tell going by the pics. Read the description and look at the photos and compare to your coin. John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
587 Posts |
I'm going to say type 1. The top looks thin and the bottom looks flattened.
Edited by bzookaj
06/25/2020 10:01 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1543 Posts |
The center loops look pretty circular. Type 2
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Pillar of the Community
United States
600 Posts |
I guess if it was clear and easy, you wouldn't get a mix of type 1/type 2 answers. I think the early type 1s are fairly "clear" and harder to differentiate from the type 2. As the type 1 die deteriorated, the S got more blobby. More open S, flatter top surface, more distinct bulbous serifs are the points I'd look at. I'm guessing type 2 here.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5661 Posts |
So that wasn't too helpful, we're still split between type 1 and 2. Here's the back story. This was purchased in the 1980's as a type 2 SBA 1981-S. It looked right for a type 2, and I decided to get it graded and attributed last year. Unfortunately, it came back from ANACS as a PF69 DCAM type 1. Under a 10x loupe, it still looks to me like it could be a type 2, but the difference is very subtle and I'm not sure. Since there's about a $100 difference in value between the two, I was wondering if I should send it back to ANACS for confirmation, or if I should just take their word for it. I'd hate to just let it go if there's a chance that they got it wrong. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2023 Posts |
The difference is very subtle. I have one of each in PCGS slabs and even with both in hand I can hardly tell which is which under 30x. From the beginning here, I thought this was Type 1 (the top curve is round and smooth; Type 2 has a larger end that sticks out a bit, and I don't see that here) so I'd accept ANACS' conclusion.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5661 Posts |
@Alpha, I appreciate your thoughts. I guess ANACS is much more likely to be right than wrong, and since I can't tell myself, I'll just accept their judgement. I'll chalk it up to a bad buy 30 years ago...
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Valued Member
United States
115 Posts |
Looks like a Type 2 to me.
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,959 |
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Posted 06/24/2020 5:49 pm
