Just went looking though examples on this year. They all look like that. So I'm thinking the master hub was spreading and thus the devices are too close to the dies edge. I'll check to see when they made a new master hub. (Just like the 1968 cent dies master hub was replaced in 1969, and the 1982 quarters master hub was replaced in 1983)
Looks like it was changed in 1981 on the dimes. Some of the year previous did show a 'W' very close, (76-80) but they must have changed in in 1981.
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