My copy of Ron Pope's book is loaned out right now. IIRC, there are two different varieties for 1918, one with the designer's initial (like yours) and one without. I know there has been quite a bit of discussion over the last 10-12 years whether these are different dies or different stages of the same die.
At $26, how could you go wrong? It's a fun coin, and tells quite a bit of the history of a complicated design, difficult striking qualities, pesky die clashes, and overly enthusiastic die polishing. It's everything the mints hated about the coin, and everything we love about it, all in one coin.
Enjoy that coin, and don't anguish a minute over the price. These don't come along very often.
I agree, F/VF example. Nice coin!
Posted 09/16/2021 4:43 pm
