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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,155 |
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New Member
Canada
4 Posts |
Hi, I used to collect coins as a kid (50 odd years ago), and just recently opened up the box that's been stashed away for decades only to come across this 1881 Canada one cent coin I'd bought in the 70's from a local coin & stamp shop. I looked it up to see if it had any errors, and noticed every site mentioned that all 1881 cent coins had a Heaton H mintmark under the date yet mine doesn't, nor anywhere else on either side of the coin. It's in decent condition so I don't believe it was worn off and the detail is quite good. Could this be another error, where the H portion of the die was missing? filled with material? Any help would be appreciated.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
4911 Posts |
Your picture is a little bit too grainy to get a proper look.. There are a few things that could have caused this, my money would be on the coin being struck with a Grease Filled Die... It could also be conveniently placed damage from circulation though. It would be great if you could get us sharper pictures, perhaps at a couple angles so that we can assess how that area looks texture-wise compared to the rest of the coin. Very intriguing piece. Feel free to call me Will.
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New Member
 Canada
4 Posts |
Unfortunately that's as good as I can get with a phone camera. Great for taking 8k pictures of family and scenery, not so good for close ups at this scale. I might have to look into some type of microscope with picture capturing ability.
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Moderator
 United States
187840 Posts |
 to the Community! |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
5585 Posts |
There are some portions of some of the letters being very weak or missing. Maybe this coin was buried for years and the bronze got eaten away.
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New Member
Canada
4 Posts |
I managed to borrow a low end digital microscope and took pictures at 10x and 60x magnification. Not sure they are any better, but am sure the texture is consistent and there is no indication of any mark every being there. I hope these are better. The bottom picture is at 60x magnification and shows the bottom of the two 8's in 1881 and the bead ring to highlight the area where the H should be.   Edited by SteveJH62
07/05/2023 10:12 pm
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Valued Member
Canada
342 Posts |
I think I see the h. I'm will okie on this one could have been buried before you got it
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New Member
Canada
4 Posts |
I can attest to where the coin has been for the past 50 years, but can't speak for where it has been for the 90 years prior. It's possible it was burried I suppose as I'm not coin expert, but to me highly unlikely as the rest of the coin shows decent detail and no signs of erosion. Just seems odd that only the H would erode perfectly away with no trace of it every being there, and the surface where it should be matches the surface all around the 1881 date. I have seen images of other 1881 cents where the EN in CENT is very shallow as well, so not sure if that's from handling or to do with die wear, I'll leave that up to the experts.
I'd like to find someone in the Guelph area who could actually see the coin and view it with better equipment. I just know with a magnifying glass and good lighting I see nothing there but a continuous surface.
Thanks for your advice/opinions as I'm just getting back into collecting.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1221 Posts |
Looks like it's had some type of acid bath by the surface of the coin that's not how it came from the mint.
I for one would like to see full pictures of both the reverse and the obverse.
I suspect the "H" was mostly ground off and the grinding marks removed with a light acid bath.
The pebbly surface is just not normal.
Cheers, Bill
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,155 |
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Posted 07/03/2023 2:39 pm
