I Am Hoping Someone Can Explain What Causes This

I usually do also after 4 shots of vodka!!

I figured they were not error coins and just PMD but I have noticed in forums if I write that I think coins I am posting are PMD people don't even take the time to actually look and just type PMD and leave it at that. Seems I have to give people the initiative to prove me wrong to get a actual true answer. Now Am I to understand the initials are just not on the coin because of a filled die? Also are the designer initials punched onto a coin or just struck as normal I cant seem to find that information.

Thanks Crazyb0 that link was very helpful I learned some valuable information from it that will help with my coin searching.


* And Mark1959 you must be a lightweight to be seeing double off only 4 shots I think my GF might even be able to handle her liquor better.

What you are really asking is whether the designer initials are part of the master hub or punched into the working die. They are part of the master hub.


The mint changed the process, although I don't remember the year. Certainly into the 20th century, the master hub was used year over year and so the date and mintmark were left off.

In the early days of the mint (1790s) the master hub would just be the central design element (the bust of liberty or the eagle) and then the lettering would be added to the working dies by hand. This caused each working die to be slightly different (the master hub elements would also be touched up by hand). The punches would have slightly different alignment, be rotated or even positioned slightly differently.

This is why coins up to the 1860s or so are collected by die marriages, in part because it's easy to see and trace the unique dies. You see the same thing with Morgan dollars, where the tiny touch-ups and cracks of the dies make it possible to trace (VAMworld is the canonical site).

This is also why you see things such as 1939 Jefferson nickels with the "reverse of 1939", either a left over / partly used '39 die was used into the new year or the die was made from the old hub.

Today it's all CNC work, so the concept of the master hub is different, if they even use one, it's as a master to be scanned, scaled, cleaned up on the computer and then used to cut the working dies. Watch one of the newer mint videos to see the process from the plaster master.

Watty,

The folks here answer the same questions several times a day every day 7 days a week. On occasion, some replies may seem sarcastic or you may feel like your being poke at for fun. Remember, this is a family forum and family's poke fun at each other from time to time with never any intention ridicule or put down any one. This family takes care of each other, worries about each other, pray's for each other! Tight bonds and friendships are made here. We are just every day people strolling through life trying to share with one another something that we enjoy.
So, don't take things to serious. It should make you feel like part of the family.
The folks that run this forum take a lot pride in making it family oriented and keeping it that way and we All should be thankful for that !

And remember, As Jbuck says "no question is unworthy"!

On that note, I hope that you have a great Thanksgiving and cherish the time that you have with All of your family's

Jim