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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,594 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3660 Posts |
I'm skeptical about this one, but I'd sure like some feedback. The mm position looks right for the RPM-001.  I can see something below the bottom serif and maybe a shadow below the "S" about 4 o'clock. There is also a small trace of something raised well below the "S" about 6 o'clock. I'm familiar with Stage A and B coins, and I've seen the Variety Vista pics of Stage C. If this is Stage C, it seems closer to VLDS than LDS.   It has a very weak die chip on the left side of the "W" of "WE," which is one of John Wexler's markers. I can almost see the NE-SW die scratch between "GOD" and "WE" mentioned by Wexler but I'm not sure.  If it ever had the NE-SW die scratches on the left side of the "T" in "CENT," shown as Stage B markers on coppercoins, they are long gone on this coin.  Like I said, I'm skeptical, but the die chip in "WE" and the presence of something below the mm makes me pause. Thoughts? EDIT: For comparison, here's a for certain heavily circulated borderline Stage B / Stage C RPM-001: Date and MM:  MM Details:  WE die chip plainly visible, along with a clear NW-SE scratch:  Weak, but still visible NE-SW scfratches along the left side of T in CENT:  Edited by fortcollins
02/25/2018 10:00 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2624 Posts |
This does not look like 1919S-1MM-001 on coppercoins .com.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
Edited by coop
02/26/2018 4:49 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3660 Posts |
@coop Sorry, I was out of town and didn't have a chance to check back until now.
There are two coins posted. Sorry for the confusion on this. The top coin is the one I am highly skeptical about, but just want to be sure about. The bottom coin is a definite 1919-S RPM-001, though it has plenty of wear. I added the bottom coin to allow for comparison of the die markers (or not). All of the examples posted online are AU/UNC specimens, and it's hard to translate what is seen on a high grade coin with what is found in the wild among well-circulated coins.
Let's start with the bottom coin. It is late Stage B / Early Stage C. The secondary mm is extremely weak, but all three known die markers are clear. The die chip to the left of the "W" in "WE" is bold. The NW-SE scratch between "GOD" and "WE" is weak, but can be traced from start to finish. The NE-SW die scratches to the west of the "T" in "CENT" are visible at the bottom of the "T" and a couple more are visible about one-third the way up the "T." I posted this for comparison, because the questionable top coin has about similar wear and theoretically should have about similar clarity for the die markers. It doesn't.
The top coin either is a VLDS RPM-001 or isn't a RPM-001 at all. (My gut reaction is not at all.) There are some marks below the primary mm, and the mark at 4 o'clock is in the right place. The mark beneath the lower serif, however, just doesn't look right to me for a Stage C. The die markers are not sure, either. There is something where the die chip to the left of the "W" should be, but it is too flattened for my liking. There is a scratch between "GOD" and "WE" but it seems closer to the rim than it should be. There are no visible markers on the reverse.
My interest is purely academic. The 1919-S RPM-001 is fairly common in Stage B, and I just don't see it as even collectible in Stage C, because there are so many Stage B coins roaming around, The Stage A is certainly scarce, and definitely worth the premium.
At the Denver National Money Show, I saw several Stage B coins in high grades, most of them slabbed but unattributed. They were not commanding any premium. I only saw one Stage A coin, and it was also slabbed at MS-60 Brown and unattributed, but the dealer was quite a bit too proud of the coin for me to haggle over it. I was surprised by how many Stage B coins were on the bourse floor. I wasn't hunting for the 1919-S RPM-001 at the show, but saw them while looking for another much more elusive early Lincoln unlisted RPM.
Anyway, that's way too long-winded. Here's my question: Is the top coin a VLDS Stage C RPM-001? Or just shrapnel?
Thank you so much! You are awesome.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
853 Posts |
Fortcollins, is it possible that you have the images mixed up? The mint mark placement of the top coin is much closer to being correct. The bottom coin is definitely not RPM-001. A quick overlay proves the S is much too far south.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2376 Posts |
I hate to say it but neither of these coins posted are die #1 . The first coin shown has the MM too far north and the second is too far south. I have been chasing this die for years and can say the known markers are shared with many dies.
I have bought a number of 1919-S's off the bay because all the markers and MM position seemed to be dead on in so so sellers pics. So far, no joy.
This is definitely one die that markers mean nothing without a definitive rpm.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
853 Posts |
Yeah Stone, I haven't searched hard, but have had my eye out on ebay for 4 or 5 years now. I haven't even seen one I thought was it. Surely a scarce one. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2376 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
853 Posts |
Yes sir! I remember when Bob posted that one.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2376 Posts |
It really turned me green with envy when he picked his 1919-D rpm#1 off the bay !
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,594 |
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Posted 02/26/2018 4:33 pm
