| Author |
 Replies: 13 / Views: 2,025 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
8938 Posts |
Maybe somebody can help enlighten me on this one. Were the original mint mark positions for the 1909-s VDB position 1 2 3 and 4, were those obverse dies only used to strike 09-s VDB's. Or were they also used to strike regular 09-S's? If so would you be able to cherrypick if you were able to identify that it was die pair number 1 on a coin marked as a regular 1909-s due to the fact the VDB had been worn off. Could you technically cherry-pick that? Just curious.
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
Interesting question. I bet someone has a definitive answer, but a quick look at PCGS price guide images says my answer is probably not. I see 3 out of 4 1909-S VDB mint mark positions repeated on corresponding 1909-S no-VDB (highest, one of the middle ones, lowest) or at least very close to it. I suspect you could find a close match to the 4th one too.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I seldom believe statements as to die pairs on anything from over a hundred years ago. I highly doubt records were kept that well in the past.
|
|
Moderator
 United States
54280 Posts |
Why were there just four obverse dies used for striking the 1909-S VDB coins?
Were there four presses in use in 1909 and all four dies used at the same time?
Was there just one press, and each die used sequentially until it wore out?
With the former, it would be more likely that those dies were used to make non-VDB coins.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
264 Posts |
Interesting question. Nss-52
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
This article says that die #1 was reused for 1909-S No VDB. https://coinweek.com/counterfeits/c...in-09-s-vdb/Just for fun, images from that article for 1901-S VDB dies 1, 3 and 4 on the left, and No VDB on the right. Seems like 3 out of 4 are pretty much identical, and I bet you could find the 4th. #1  #2  #3  #4  But what is the purpose of cherrypicking based on MM alone? The allure of the S VDB is being able to see the VDB. Edit: I messed up Die #3 - I think I originally paired it with a #4 No VDB by mistake. I added what I think is #2 and numbered them for clarity. See below. Edited by kbbpll
02/17/2019 4:11 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
8938 Posts |
@kbbpll if you wanted to fill a hole at a discount....
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
That's what I thought, but if VDB is worn off, from what I've seen on the MM positions you wouldn't know if it was ever a real VDB anyway. Interesting "thought experiment" though.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
8938 Posts |
Quote:
"thought experiment" though I hope so  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
772 Posts |
This is funny as I saw a 1909-S on ebay that was damaged yesterday. Noticed the bid was over $160 and thought, what gives... sure enough there was a nasty bit of damage where the VDB would be. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
kbbpll - Thanks for that link and photos. Never thought about this question before.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
8938 Posts |
The only die that wasn't re-used from what I can find is pair 2. So.... it may be possible. Just a massive pain in the rear.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
I think I found #2, so I added it above. I also think I originally messed up with #3 and paired it with a #4, so I redid that. Here are the same images with lines drawn. So within a tiny margin of error I think all 4 S VDB dies were repeated on No VDB's. #1  #2  #3  #4  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
8938 Posts |
Close, but no cigar. The reason I can tell that's not die pair number 2 is that all genuine die pair number 2 to 1909-s VDB wheat cents have a die chip behind the nine at the bottom of the lower bound.
Edited by GrapeCollects
02/17/2019 5:22 pm
|
| |
Replies: 13 / Views: 2,025 |
|
Posted 02/17/2019 08:11 am
