1968 S Cent: Repunched Dates And Mint Mark?

I agree with EV.

I agree, the date showing above id Machine Doubling - reduced numbers, shelf or step like appearance. This is classic for raised devices, but the opposite would be for incuse devices.

@dou, for whatever reason, the 1968 and 1969 cents minted in San Francisco very commonly show this Machine Doubling. Yours is a great example of this.

Good morning, coin community: I do appreciate all your input. We tried our best to identify the issue to the best of our knowledge. I myself am trying to figure out what in the world is going on in the 1968 S Lincoln Cent. I have examined 20 1968 S Lincoln Cent coin sets, including proof sets, and all seem to show the same abnormal impression. My gut told me that elements bulky, fullness, and wholeness, some showed strong to very strong, are not the result of Mechanical Doubling error. According to my research, there was no double die manufactured mistake in 1968. Instead, a worn-out master hub was overused, not with the individual stamping process.

According to an online source, the "master hub used for the obverse Lincoln portrait design was created in 1909. By 1968, it had been used for nearly 60 years". So, I am thinking that severe degradation from the overused hubbing process is what created the elements' bulky, fullness, and wholeness, and the smears' appearance. Poor quality.

Comparing the 1968 to 1969 Lincoln Cent, you can clearly see the difference in quality; it could be because of the new master hub.

You don't have to agree with my observation and information findings, and my understanding of this phenomenon. My head hurts, oh boy

Happy hunting.