Does the dot (in front of the arrows) & dot on the Eagle's ribbon have any significance? 2011-W 25th Anniversary coin, PCGS MS69. Check out this weird coincidence with 2 different 25th anniversary Bullion coins showing a silver/black mark (depends on how the light hits it) in the same location as the dot shown up above... Since the finishes are different, is it possible that this is an indicator that some bullion coins were produced at the West Point mint afterall? The packaging specifically said that the bullion coins were made at the W & S locations, but the mint has since said that they only came from the S Mint. 25th Anniversary Buillon 1 (Silver/Black dot in front of arrow & on Eagle's ribbon) 25th Anniversary Buillon 2
In my opinion, no. Doesn't give it any added value either. Likely wouldn't ding any value from it as well, perhaps only if professionally graded it would get knocked down a notch or so.
Ummm.......I believe that the bullion SAE's have actually been produced at the West Point Mint for years. They just didn't put the "W" mintmark on them. I think Coin World had an article about it in 2006 or so. Chris
There's a bunch of fuss on these coins supposedly. The packaging said that they were produced at both mints, but other mint professionals are saying that they were only produced at the San Francisco Mint. Here's an article about it. There's been speculation all over the web. http://www.coinworld.com/articles/mint-confirms-origin-of-bullion-coin-in-anniv/ I just thought the coins were interesting.
Actually, you're correct. That 2011-W 25th anniversary coin is labeled PCGS MS69. I've been obsessing over my reverse proofs for so long that I forgot that they aren't all proofs! I updated the post with the correct label.
Initially I just thought the similarity between the 2011-W & buillon coins was a coincidence, but I'm seeing several places on the 2011-W coin where there is a bubble or raised surface which corresponds with the buillon having a black or silver dot in that same location. I was only able to post 5 pics on the original post, but here's the 2nd buillon coin. 2nd buillon: (See the same black/silver spot) There are several more places on the bullion coins that match up to my 2011-W coin. I am becoming very convinced that this proves that some bullion coins DID come from the W mint. More examples..I can post more if they are needed: 2011-W Bullion coins look like this..taken at a slightly different angle, but I can retake the pic if needed:
No, it has no significance. As already stated the raised dot in front of the arrows would serve as a die diagnostic, but that's about it. It is nothing but a tiny flaw in the die. As for the black marks, not sure what caused them, but I am reasonably certain that they were caused post strike.
For years it has seemed like the mint is its own worst enemy when it comes to providing information to the public. They either publish bad information, have a spokesperson misspeak, or have a spokesperson provide bad information in many cases. About half the time, I don't think the people speaking for the mint actually know what is really going on in regard to production. And that is why we, the public, end up with such a mess. Usually it gets straightened out, eventually, and we finally do get accurate information. But it's like pulling teeth to get to that point. I'll bet that even now, 12 years later, that if you polled collectors nationwide you would get a hodgepodge of inaccurate information regarding the specifics of the production of the first Sackys. And that is a direct result of the people at the mint who answer questions not knowing the answers themselves at the time.
But that's just it. There are several of those "markers" or "flaws in the die" on the 2011-W coin. The bump by the arrows is just one location. There's another on the ribbon and in misc locations on the reverse. I'm not implying that those marks are anything special, just that they match up perfectly with the unmarked bullion coins which were supposed to be made at the San Francisco mint. It's a pattern that is consistent on both of the bullion coins. There's always been a question of whether some of these bullions could have been produced at the West Point mint; I believe this proves that some were. Also, the spots are a shiny silver, not dark as they appear in the pics.
OK, then show us some pics of the W mint mark coins that have this dot, and then some pics of the no mint mark coins that have this dot. We need to see pics of the entire coin, not just closeups. As for the spots that show as black in the pics and you say are shiny silver - that makes sense. Those spots are common on almost all ASEs. I have always believed they are contact marks, or tiny flaws in the die. But since they can be either of those things they cannot be used as die diagnostics. Those raised dots are another matter entirely. Those can be used as diagnostics.
