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 Replies: 61 / Views: 4,808 |
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Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
Chance,
I see what you are talking about but....it is too well centered below the bow and, I think we are looking at verdigris and corrosion playing tricks with us. If I am wrong, I stand corrected, and take full responsibility for my comments.
I have a 1908-S that is just as corroded as this coin, yet, the S is obvious.
I see something that looks like a mintmark but, not large enough and defined.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3276 Posts |
 I definately see the s. But I think we want to see it. It is way too faint. All of the corrosion and verdigris is making an illusion. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1372 Posts |
Here's something to ponder. A month or so ago, I bought a small lot of Morgan dollars. There were 3 dated 1921, and I thought that the Denver mint mark on one looked unusually tiny. I looked to see via web search if there was any reference to a micro D, and the explanation given for that one was that the mint mark simply wasn't punched as deep, creating a mint mark that was even smaller than the already small D mint mark on the 21-D. It could be that we're all hallucinating, but does that really seem likely? We'll know soon ... a few days probably. Chance. |
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
Has there been any "micro" mintmarks certified or recognized yet? On these two coins?
That's the argument I guess.
swcoin.ecrater.com
Edited by vermontensium
09/30/2011 06:37 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
We'll just have to see what it is when it gets here. It sure seems weird for an anomally to be centered vertically and horizontally below the bow....and for it to look exactly like a letter "S". That's a whole stack of coincidences. I've not found any reference or discussion of a micro S on a 1909 Indian head. They were also minting the 1909-S Lincoln Cent, which has a smaller mint mark, so the possibility, though extremely remote, exists that the wrong punch could have been used on a reverse die, and the error caught and rectified quickly. It could also be counterfeit, though it sure looks like an old one. Chance |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
880 Posts |
I don't collect copper so I could be off (I don't know the reverse dies), but if you see an "S" then it's still off when compared to the earlier photo's posted. Ignore left/right, but look at the bottom of the supposed S. It's not even near the bottom of the bottom of the wrapping on the wreath. On the pictures posted earlier, the bottom of the S is below the wreath.
I personally think the "S" that I see is different from the one you highlighted in the original picture. I'm at work and can't edit photos how I'd like, but look at the unedited picture compared to the edited one. The black marks you have indicating the S actually cover up what I see as a clear S (one that appears to be way to small) at what would be roughly 10-11 o-clock of the highlighted S.
All in all, I'm jabbering. I think there's an S, but I believe it to be counterfeit based on the other photo's here.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
Ghost images appear when photographing coins under the acetate or maylar in the 2x2 staple holders. I tried to take pics of an 1832 dime in a 2x2 ... and I had to remove it for that reason.
We'll see soon enough.
Chance
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
Craps .......... The coin arrived in this morning's mail, and I can report that we were hallucinating. It was nothing more than the magic of digital imagery. Some kind of crazy biasing.  This one will go into a "lot" to be resold, so I'll lose some on it, but I'd do it again. I'm still waiting for the Halifax coin, so we'll see on that one. I bought a small lot this morning with a couple morgans, some other small silver and 16 indian heads. One of those is a 1909. No doubt a philly one, but I didn't really buy the lot for the Indian Head cents. I picked it up for the silver. I still prefer my glass half full to half empty, and while it's a little disappointing, I'm not really surprised. Chance  Edited by Chancellor Sutler
09/30/2011 11:48 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
Has there been any "micro" mintmarks certified or recognized yet? On these two coins? That's the argument I guess. It's a reasonable question to ask, although only two 09-S reverse dies have been identified. So about Chance's coin--oh well, it's happened to me too. Sometimes I've "connected the dots" with too little information. All it means...next time you'll be able to spot the real 09-S.  |
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
Well, now we know at least. I just purchased a lot of 46 IHC's on ebay for 84C each. The lot includes (3)1908 and (1) 1909. The seller does not seem to know anything about coins. Be nice if I saw an S on one of them! swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
1028 Posts |
for the record, only half the people here were hallucinating. :) My earlier posts were quite definitive in the negative.
For your sake though, I wish I was wrong
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
Be nice if I saw an S on one of them! Seeing a coin in hand is completely different! The "S" is on a scale that dispels all doubt. The real question for a 1909-S--is it real? For the record, I'm someone who combs ebay looking for overdates--details that are a fraction of the size of this "S" mintmark--and I quite often trip myself up, seeing something that's not there, so I know how that goes. Edited by DVCollector
09/30/2011 6:13 pm
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
As I stated earlier, I have a 1908-S thats pretty darn corroded, dark brown with a tad of verdigris, but the S is EASY to spot.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
It was admittedly a stretch ... but I've had some of these long shots pay off too. One success can fund many disappointments. Thanks to all for their input. I'll keep you posted on the Halifax coin too. It may even arrive tomorrow, though I'm not counting on it. If there is a mint mark on that one, it is much larger. There's a nick in the rim, so the fact that it appears a little smooshed .. could make sense since the nick is in a straight line to the bottom of the letter ... "if" it's there. I did get a 1934 DDO washington for 9.63 last week. It's not in top shelf condition, but I have one now, and picked it up at practically zero premium. That little lot that I picked up this morning has some possibilities in it too. The 1883 V nickel may not be the "no cents" variety, there's an 09 IHC, a few buffalos that look interesting. Basically, I'll probably toss the bulk of that lot back up on ebay pretty quick though and just keep the 2.65 face in silver, and maybe 8 of the indian heads. I once bought a lot of crappy V nickels for 49.00 which was the opening bid. In that lot was one struck on a foreign planchet, and I ultimately ended up getting over 150 dollars for just that coin. I sold the rest of the lot and recovered all but 15 dollars of my investment. Chance |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10038 Posts |
Whether it is pixelation causing the shape of an S or not, this sure has been a fun ride! BTW - here is the latest photo you said to lighten up:  When looking at the lightened pic initially, it was obvious there was a dark spot where the S should be. So I concentrated on changing the brightness and contrast more in this area. The dark spot appears to have the proper shape. So now we wait to see if two different pics have made us all see what we hope to see b/c of poor lighting conditions and pixelation! Our minds' constant pattern matching activities can lead to some fun! |
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Posted 09/30/2011 04:15 am
