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 Replies: 10 / Views: 8,379 |
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New Member
United States
1 Posts |
I am new to coin collecting and was wondering if the Wheat penny I have is of any consequence. I have a 1940's Wheat penny s mint mark that is completely missing the last digit of the year date. Is this a common occurance ? Throw it in the change jar or what. Appreciate any info I can get with this. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
717 Posts |
First,  then  No mintmark could mean it was minted in Philadelphia, so nothing unusual there, or you could have a coin that had a Grease Filled Die or something similar. Only way for us to tell is for you to post a picture. As close-up as you can while keeping good focus! |
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
The MM is there; it is the last digit of the year that is missing. Correct? If so, it could be the result of a weak strike or a Grease Filled Die. Pics would help the experts. There might be a small premium depending upon the condition of the coin. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Yes, pics please!!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2233 Posts |
aboard, and |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4589 Posts |
In the process of minting coins, there is a small amount of stuff that can stick to the die. It could be hydraulic fluid from the press machinery, oil or grease used on the moving parts (lots of metal-metal contact in the minting process). It's sticky, so it picks up metal dust, fibers, etc.
Imagine a tiny blob of that stuck to the die. The raised lettering and numbers on the coin are depressed on the die. So they fill up with that greasy mess. Now the die comes down on a metal disk (planchet) (or the disk is sitting on the die and the upper die comes down) with TONS of pressure... and there is just no place for that grease to go under that kind of pressure. It acts like it's a solid, so the metal of the planchet doesn't flow to fill the digit like it fills the rest of the design.
Some of the grease may stick to the coin, so the next one doesn't have the same problem. But sometimes it stays stuck until the pressman cleans the die (with a rag, which leaves fibers behind - so there's the next cycle), and dozens or hundreds or more coins will have that missing digit.
So they usually aren't TERRIBLY valuable, but they are worth something and way cool to find one!
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3463 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5964 Posts |
Cwb, I'm assuming you're saying an idiot can't read. I know a few people that can read, and they are still idiots. lol |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2775 Posts |
Kita60 Would like to see rather than speculate. If you can post a picture of it would help. I read your post as 1940 something LWC missing the last digit in the date and its from the San Francisco mint. Grease Filled Die on digit(s) / devices are common, but can only guess at what I can't see. Thanks, Doug. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3463 Posts |
Quote:
Cwb, I'm assuming you're saying an idiot can't read. Most idiots can read, they just won't. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
It could be damage from a rolling machine but that typically creates damage on the motto near the rim as well. A picture would be helpful. and to CCF. |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 8,379 |
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Posted 08/16/2015 2:05 pm
