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 Replies: 18 / Views: 3,817 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
From this article.Quote:The hunt to identify a "secret mark" on the reverse of an 1875 Indian Head cent which has persisted for some thirty-six years may have finally been successful...The coin had a tiny raised dot on one of the letters in the denomination...About 30,000 were coined from this die. Such a coin may be found today at the ratio of 1 to every 450 cents.Now that the collector knows what to look for, we may quickly learn how many survived. I hope someone here finds one!  |
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Moderator
 United States
6563 Posts |
I don't get it. Looks like nothing more then a die chip that someone is trying to turn into a urban legend
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5318 Posts |
Well, your guess is as good as mine! |
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
It's a conspiracy, right?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
Interesting article. But I'm skeptical of the ratio of 1 dotted N 1875 remaining for every 450 1875s produced. Yes, dividing 13.5 million by 30,000 gives you 450, but how many of those 30,000 were later destroyed or captured or confiscated after the mint employee was caught? I suspect the ratio is far less than this.
It does give me something to look for. I have maybe a dozen 1875s. If I have one I'll let you all know.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
The Stack's coin is now with Rick Snow. Here's his detail photo of the controversial mark:  The other photo is here. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
Is it possible for this mark to be put there post-mintage? Can this potential problem be completely ruled out?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
As a raised mark on the coin? It isn't likely. Possible, but not by accident.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
Can soldering hot metal onto a coin create that appearance?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Possibly but you would have difficulty hiding the seam, discoloration from the heat, and the staining caused by the flux.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
For all I know, that's "the mark", and Rick Snow is now regarding this as a true variety.
If anyone wants a photo of the markers on this coin, Rick sent me one I can pass along.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
The raised area is copper(bronze) so the solder would have to be the same composition as the coin. Adding something that hot to the surface of a coin should discolor the surrounding metal
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1571 Posts |
GO, that may vbe true, but what about the "tiny dot", on the right vertical leg of the "N"? That would be just the "katz-Pajamas" for catching a thief!
Dick
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
Hi Kurt.. I'd love a photo of the markers, if you don't mind sending  Thanks for posting this! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Hi, Rick posted this later when I asked him about other markers. Here he's highlighted a reverse die crack that should appear on this variety.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
I'm with GO here. By this line of thinking, any variety could be considered the "Secret Coin". If they wanted to mark the coins, I would think that the mint would have come up with something that didn't resemble Die Deterioration. Perhaps something inconspicuous like on the Omega Counterfeits. |
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Replies: 18 / Views: 3,817 |
Posted 08/07/2008 10:11 pm
