1952-S Nickel Mintmark Mystery - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 9 / Views: 931
Brandmeister Pillar of the Community United States 6467 Posts	Posted 08/15/2023 11:51 pm We've pretty well established that mintmarks are my Kryptonite, but this one has me extra stumped. The only S mint mark listed for 1952 is the MMS-008, tall mint mark. That does not appear to have a serif on the top. I looked through all the PCGS reference images for 1952-S 5c, and they all look like normal MMS-008. The top looks like the most like MMS-005. The bottom, I don't know. 004, 006, 008, take your pick. http://www.varietyvista.com/25%20Wh...20Styles.htm How do you interpret this mint mark? I guess we could say "smooshed" and move on, but there seems to be a clear serif top connected to a clear bulb bottom. Report this Post to the Staff

Petespockets55 Pillar of the Community United States 5770 Posts	Posted 08/16/2023 06:37 am I see what you're referring to on the top serif. Can you get an image that puts more light on the bottom of the MM to minimize the shadow and highlight the profile of the MM? The bottom serif might be a slight notch, dirt, Die Deterioration, or other. Words of encouragement are one of the major food groups. We need to consume them regularly to thrive and grow. Report this Post to the Staff
Brandmeister Pillar of the Community United States 6467 Posts	Posted 08/16/2023 08:38 am There is definitely some Die Deterioration on this nickel. Radial flow lines are present. In fact, I hadn't even considered any notching on that bulb because I just assumed it was a little metal drift from DD, pulling towards Monticello. I took four fresh pictures with the light N,S,E,W, but I think I am pushing the resolution of my little plastic magnifier attachment. Report this Post to the Staff
Petespockets55 Pillar of the Community United States 5770 Posts	Posted 08/16/2023 3:00 pm Interesting images, especially the last one. Your MM seems to favor MMs-009. Both serifs seem to almost touch the curves. The serifs of MMS-008 don't come close to the curve. Words of encouragement are one of the major food groups. We need to consume them regularly to thrive and grow. Report this Post to the Staff
Brandmeister Pillar of the Community United States 6467 Posts	Posted 08/16/2023 3:32 pm I can see the similarity to 009. But I don't even know where to begin down that path, because MMS-009 seems to have been proven to be a 004 Trumpet Tail that is doubled or badly damaged. http://www.varietyvista.com/Mystery...%20Punch.htm Report this Post to the Staff
Keith67 Pillar of the Community United States 6524 Posts	Posted 08/16/2023 4:02 pm Can we see an image of the whole coin? Front and back Report this Post to the Staff
Brandmeister Pillar of the Community United States 6467 Posts	Posted 08/16/2023 4:47 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Brandmeister Pillar of the Community United States 6467 Posts	Posted 08/16/2023 5:05 pm In doing more research, I was comparing Wexler RPM listings for 1952-S. Many of them do not seem to be Tall Serif mint marks, but rather Trumpet Tail mint marks. Is it possible that the Variety Vista S mint mark grid is simply missing a MMS-004 for 1952 nickels? Trumpet Tail was used on cents and dimes that year. https://www.lincolncentresource.com..._Styles.html https://doubleddie.com/1469087.html http://www.varietyvista.com/25%20Wh...20Styles.htm Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 95025 Posts	Posted 08/16/2023 5:25 pm Is it possible that the lower part of the S took a hit years ago and is now smoothed over? 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
Brandmeister Pillar of the Community United States 6467 Posts	Posted 01/13/2024 8:10 pm https://www.pcgs.com/cert/40121151 I've been doing some more research on S mint marks recently. For one thing, I believe that Variety Vista has either been updated—or I missed it the first time around—with the Trumpet Tail mint mark. That's in addition to the Tall S mint mark. I also found the above PCGS cert with a mint mark like mine above. No idea what it is, per se, but it appears to have the bulb bottom and the serif top. Report this Post to the Staff
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