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CoinTalk > Coin Forums > US Coins Forum Lover's Revenge?

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Page 1 of 2 1 2 >   LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes 07-29-2007, 02:54 PM   #1 (permalink) Nighthawk Junior Member   Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Front Range Posts: 27 Lover's Revenge? I picked this Mercury dime up from a dealer yesterday. I do not know the story behind this coin but someone REALLY had it in for this coin and if I had to guess, it was done as an act of revenge. Although the mintmark area has been thoroughly decimated, it still looks like the bottom of the “D” is visible (for comparison, I created an image with the mintmark area of a 1916 D that I downloaded from Coinpage.com). From a more practical standpoint, I also think it was a 1916 D because I doubt anyone would deal this much carnage to a coin worth less than $20. Does anyone think nick-a-date (or more appropriately nitric acid) would restore the mintmark? And before you comment about the dangers of using acid on coins, I have been a chemist for 20 years so I know all about lab safety. One last point is that I bought this coin at melt value (about 90 cents), so experimentation would not reduce the value of the coin any further. Attached Thumbnails         07-29-2007, 03:02 PM   #2 (permalink) Bonedigger Numismatist     Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: South Dakota Posts: 7,885 I gotta be honest, it looks like an S to me. Check out the three olive branch leaves on the D vs the one which is scratched, they're different. It is a shame though... __________________ A few things to remember, Certification and Attribution are Absolute and Definitive. Grading, on the other hand IS NOT. STRIKE is everything, be it strong or weak. Capped Bust Half Dollars Identification Reference [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]   07-29-2007, 03:22 PM   #3 (permalink) Treashunt The Other Frank     Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New York Posts: 16,668 I happen to agree with Ben, looks like an S, but it is definitely an eBay D. __________________ The Other Frank "Buy The Book Before The Coin!" http://www.whitmanbooks.com/Default....wUpcoming_1208   07-29-2007, 03:44 PM   #4 (permalink) BostonMike Senior Member   Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 409 It looks like a D to me. It's not wishful thinking, that's just what i see from that pic. I could be wrong though. I would need to see it in hand with a magnifying glass though to be certain Nothing out there will restore that kind of damage.   07-29-2007, 04:22 PM   #5 (permalink) Captainkirk 73 Buick Riviera owner     Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Girard PA Posts: 1,053 My Mood: Blog Entries: 1 with that much damage, the best grade I could give it is SGS MS66 Scratched   07-29-2007, 04:48 PM   #6 (permalink) Treashunt The Other Frank     Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New York Posts: 16,668 Quote: Originally Posted by Captainkirk with that much damage, the best grade I could give it is SGS MS66 Scratched nah, SGS= MS-68, nothing lower! the scratches bring it down from a 69. __________________ The Other Frank "Buy The Book Before The Coin!" http://www.whitmanbooks.com/Default....wUpcoming_1208   07-29-2007, 05:02 PM   #7 (permalink) 900fine doggone it people like me     Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,807 My Mood: Quote: Originally Posted by Captainkirk with that much damage, the best grade I could give it is SGS MS66 Scratched LOL MAYBE an SGS MS66 * - and they would definitely call it a D (though it's clearly an S) Nothing will restore it.   07-29-2007, 04:30 PM   #8 (permalink) Shortgapbob Emerging Numismatist     Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,505 I think it may be an S as well just from the pics. __________________ "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." -- Aristotle ANA Member # 1214770 WINS Member #678 EAC Member# 5591 Member: Western Maryland Coin Club   07-29-2007, 05:13 PM   #9 (permalink) hontonai Registered Contrarian   Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,434 My Mood: If that's a die crack extending up from the "D" in "Dime", and not just another gouge/scratch, it might be possible to search for the same die crack and see if it's on a "D" or an "S" dime.   07-29-2007, 05:25 PM   #10 (permalink) Nighthawk Junior Member   Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Front Range Posts: 27 After looking at the coin again, I have to agree that it is an S. Originally, I looked at an image of a 1917 S and the mintmark is larger and lower on the coin. I then pulled out my album and looked at my 1916 S and it has a mintmark in the same place and size as my mystery coin. Attached is a larger image of the minmark area and it does appear to have the curvature that is consistent with a Serif end to the S. Oh well, it still makes an interesting conversation piece. As for the possible die crack, no that is additional damage. Attached Thumbnails     07-29-2007, 05:42 PM   #11 (permalink) BostonMike Senior Member   Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 409 With that last pic, i agree, i see the tail of an S   07-29-2007, 07:51 PM   #12 (permalink) Treashunt The Other Frank     Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New York Posts: 16,668 Quote: Originally Posted by BostonMike With that last pic, i agree, i see the tail of an S so, who cares, send it to SGS. __________________ The Other Frank "Buy The Book Before The Coin!" http://www.whitmanbooks.com/Default....wUpcoming_1208   07-29-2007, 06:11 PM   #13 (permalink) mralexanderb Coin Collector     Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,964 My Mood: Someones spouse must have been pretty ****ed off to destroy a coin like that. Nighthawk, you could send it in th GEC for a MS 70 grading. They'll never fail to grade what they want.   07-29-2007, 07:48 PM   #14 (permalink) kidkayt Senior Member   Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 292 An S is what it appears to be; don't notice the tilt/serif of the D. The story sounds great! maybe a side issue in an epic novel?   07-29-2007, 08:14 PM   #15 (permalink) gatzdon Numismatist   Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,017 It could have been destroyed way back when it was only worth 10¢. I've done strange things as a kid with coins in the name of experimentation (I think I was proving that coins are malable).   Page 1 of 2 1 2 > Bookmarks Digg del.icio.us StumbleUpon Google Would you like to support CoinTalk? Coin Talk Code of Honor 1. Post unto others as you would have them post unto you. 2. Keep it clean, like a 1950s family television show. 3. 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