If we are going to observe the upper part of the mintmark, lets examine to see if the date is showing the same thing on the tops of these devices as well? That will tell us if this is a striking error or a die issue. Note how the mintmark shape is pushed aside on the NW corner. So did this happen during the strike, or by the mintmark punch on of a previous punch. There was an event that had damaged the mintmark punch that year. So more is involved on this subject:
