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 Replies: 32 / Views: 18,908 |
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Valued Member
United States
62 Posts |
Hi -- Can you help determine if this is small or large H? I wish I had some other 1903s to compare but this is my only one :) Thank you!  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1733 Posts |
Oops we're on 1903, small H imo
Edited by Ugly
05/02/2011 3:35 pm
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Valued Member
United States
200 Posts |
I think the large H. My main diagnostic is that the H is not as centered under the bow/ribbon as the small H is. Note how the H is somewhat shifted to the L under the bow, moreso than the small H would be.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
You might compare yours to mine, which I think is a large H:  |
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Valued Member
United States
200 Posts |
DvC, yours is a large H, and shows how the H is shifted to the left of the bottom two loops of the ribbon.
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Valued Member
 United States
62 Posts |
DVCollector... I used your image and sized/cropped/rotated it and then laid it over mine and then lowered the opacity so I could compare. It looks like I have the same H as you! So looking at mine and DVCollector's does everyone agree both are large H? Below is both mine and mine with yours overlaid (with lowered opacity so you can see through yours)   Edited by mbird
05/04/2011 6:16 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Mbird, the overlay helps--it looks like the two coins match on mintmark.  My coin is a very late die state, which probably accounts for the distorted serifs on the H. It also has a die crack running from rim to rim:  |
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Valued Member
United States
62 Posts |
What I really need to do is buy a small H and then scan that and compare the two -- I think that would help. Do you think it is safe to id this as large H or is it still up in the air?
Thanks!
Ugly -- do you still say small H (see post above)? If so then I will not call this id'd -- only if everyone agrees and it is unanimous will I feel comfortable with calling it!
Edited by mbird
05/04/2011 10:24 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1733 Posts |
Whether by optical illusion on my part or not, the H looked quite far from the rim in your picture probably because the bottom part of the H is so dark. If sharper eyes than mine have seen the light, by all means believe them. I would and do. I offered an opinion based on what I saw and if corrected I feel pleased that someone took the time to do so.
;)
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Valued Member
United States
200 Posts |
  Hope these take, but even if "02's, same same with the '03's. Maybe this may clear some things up. The serifs really are a good clue, they follow the Large H. The H is definately closer to the rim, so I still stand by the Large H. Edited by Tam
05/07/2011 8:01 pm
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Valued Member
Canada
84 Posts |
So here are 2 different 1903H that I sent to ICCS... both graded VF30 and 2 that are not TPG... the H's look different to me.. but both came back Small H. The H's all look similar but a little different in placement etc. The last coin pictured I thought was the smallest H of the lot but also the most worn.. I guess I have 4 Small H 1903's ... Do these all look the same to you guys? 1st Coin ICCS Small H   2nd Coin ICCS Small H   3rd Coin - Not TPG  4th Coin - Not TPG  |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
9865 Posts |
I can't for the life of me ever determine large or small H on these With over 2.5 million produced,how many reverse dies were used? Each individual die used had the H punched in for use at the Heaton mint I see no significant difference in the font used Perhaps the size difference is related to the pressure used to sink the H The position of the H can vary for every die used There are as many varieties of H as there are dies used We have been brainwashed into believing there are two H's and the TPG's are the sole arbitors |
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Valued Member
Canada
200 Posts |
I agree with DBM on this. (except for the brainwash idea!)
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
 with others in that the more I stare at the mintmark, the less sure I become. I used to think the "large H" was significantly larger; it may be easier to tell with the coins in hand. One issue I recall which blurs the small/large distinction is the impact of die wear on the appearance. The serifs take on a rounded appearance, making the H appear larger. I'll see if an overlay helps. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1733 Posts |
I don't think it's all that hard. If you look at the top part of the H and the open area looks like a little monopoly house with a sloped roof it's a small H. Even after considerable wear on the Large H it remains fairly square, no sloped roof.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
So I did an overlay using my coin and your "1st Coin ICCS Small H" I think the overlay is pretty closely aligned to the bow and denticles. Aside from the H on your coin being slightly lower, I cannot see much of a size difference. Perhaps my coin is a "small H" as well?   |
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Replies: 32 / Views: 18,908 |
Posted 05/03/2011 6:58 pm
