Found A 1978 Lincoln Memorial Cent / LMC With A Different Looking Reverse Design. Seems Closer To A Reverse Of A 1978-S?

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Author	Replies: 30 / Views: 1,688	Page: of 2
AF1996 New Member United States 30 Posts	Posted 05/21/2023 4:48 pm Hi I have a question about a 1978 LMC that has a reverse that doesn't look like the usual reverse I have seen on the 1978 or other late 1970's LMC's. It does, however, seem to be more similar to the reverse of a proof 1978-s. The lettering on this reverse is thinner and has more spacing between the letter's. It seems very different from the regular strike 1978. I've done a little searching online and haven't found anything regarding different reverse design varieties for the late 1970's LMC's. I am aware of the Close AM's of the 1992 LMC's and Wide AM's for 93-08. However, I haven't found anything regarding similar error's in the late 1970's LMC's. Are there any reverse design variety errors among the late 1970's LMC's? The coin that I'm curious about is on the left in my pictures with a comparison 1978 on the right. Thanks for your help! Edited by AF1996 05/21/2023 4:50 pm Report this Post to the Staff

Dearborn Moderator United States 96124 Posts	Posted 05/21/2023 5:36 pm Yep, I see what you are pointing out, the letters on one of these cents are fatter than the other. I'm not sure if this is a variety or not. But Wide AM's are normal for this year. There are a few cent experts here that can better answer your question. Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
-makecents- Pillar of the Community United States 8751 Posts	Posted 05/21/2023 7:04 pm I can't really tell from the pics but would say it is due to a lightly Grease Filled Die or even more likely, an abraded die, where the letters are polished down some. -makecents- Report this Post to the Staff
AF1996 New Member United States 30 Posts	Posted 05/21/2023 8:03 pm Hey here are some additional pictures. I compared this reverse to other late 1970's LMC's on PCGS website and the reverse seems to be more similar to a 1978 proof LMC. Thanks for taking a look! Report this Post to the Staff
-makecents- Pillar of the Community United States 8751 Posts	Posted 05/21/2023 8:15 pm Thanks for the extra pics. I stand by my first assessment and you new pics show a couple of nice finger prints. -makecents- Report this Post to the Staff
AF1996 New Member United States 30 Posts	Posted 05/21/2023 8:21 pm These pictures show the different spacing in the letters. I haven't come across another late 70's LMC with this appearance before. Thanks for taking a look! Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 96124 Posts	Posted 05/21/2023 8:30 pm I have to agree that the spacing is closer, Especially seeing the newer images. It looks to me as a thicker font was used. Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Edited by Dearborn 05/21/2023 9:43 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Jim0815 Pillar of the Community United States 5239 Posts	Posted 05/21/2023 8:34 pm It appears the reverse with the thinner devices have come about by over polishing. Report this Post to the Staff
AF1996 New Member United States 30 Posts	Posted 05/21/2023 8:48 pm It is the reverse with the thinner and greater spaced letters that I'm interested in. I included a picture of the reverse for the 1978-S proof coin. This picture is from PCGS.com. When comparing the reverse's it seems similar to the Proof coin. I agree the letters are thinner but they seem spaced out quite a bit more then a regular strike coin. Report this Post to the Staff
-makecents- Pillar of the Community United States 8751 Posts	Posted 05/21/2023 8:50 pm You apparently are not understanding. When the letters are abraded and made thinner, the spacing becomes greater. Not a different font, not a different reverse. -makecents- Edited by -makecents- 05/21/2023 8:51 pm Report this Post to the Staff
stoneman227 Pillar of the Community United States 2376 Posts	Posted 05/22/2023 12:52 pm The thinner letters example was caused by die abrasion. I did an overlay of your example photos. The thinner version over a thicker. One photo is an exact overlay and the other is with the photos offset. As you can see there is no spacing difference, only a difference of thickness cause by die abrasion. Report this Post to the Staff
coop Bedrock of the Community United States 62064 Posts	Posted 05/22/2023 1:05 pm Die polishing reduces the size. How? The die has the opposite appearance than the coin. What? Everything raised on the coins will show on the die as deeper into the dies. Besides being mirrored the fields are the outside edge of the die. The devices are deeper into the die. The taller the device is on the coin, the deeper the devices will be into the die. Note the outer edge of the die has a gutter? That is what helps for the rim on the coins outer edge of the design, protecting the devices on the coin. When a die is polished, what is affected first? The fields. These are often altered first on the die. The later die wear will affect the incuse devices on the die. But when a die is polished, the devices bases are the widest/tallest parts of the design. When the polishing happens, the bases of the devices will be reduced in size, making the devices shorter and thinner as the die gets the fields polished more and more times. Why are the devices tapered? If they weren't the coins would strike to the dies post strike. So the tapering of the coins prevents them from being stuck on to the dies. What is why the devices will be reduced in size as the fields are polished away. On a doubled die, the devices are enlarged on the die because of the hub creation on the die. Thus looking for enlarged devices is what to look for. Reduced devices are just a normal die that was over polished. Hope this helps? CoopHome: Why are some devices reduced in size on the coins? Edited by coop 05/22/2023 1:12 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Cujohn Pillar of the Community United States 7174 Posts	Posted 05/22/2023 5:32 pm Just the difference between old dies and new dies. Report this Post to the Staff
AF1996 New Member United States 30 Posts	Posted 05/22/2023 8:37 pm Thanks everyone for the help! That reverse looked very different from other late 70's LMC's, however, I see now how over polishing a die can change the appearance of the devices. Thanks again! Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 96124 Posts	Posted 05/22/2023 8:45 pm Quote: You apparently are not understanding. When the letters are abraded and made thinner, the spacing becomes greater. Not a different font, not a different reverse. Apparently not - it would seem that I was looking at it 'backwards' (if that makes sense) Thanks for the clarity. You Da Best Jon! Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Edited by Dearborn 05/22/2023 8:46 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Jess1234 Valued Member Canada 333 Posts	Posted 05/22/2023 9:07 pm Very interesting! The pros never cease to amaze me! Thanks! Report this Post to the Staff
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Found A 1978 LMC With A Different Looking Reverse Design. Seems Closer To A Reverse Of A 1978-S?