There's something going on with the last digit of this 1917 merc I got in this morning's mail from an eBay seller in Estonia. I thought when I looked at the seller's picture that there was something there .... but I thought that when magnified, the 7 looked more like an 8. Here's a link to the listing I bought the coin from.... http://www.ebay.com/itm/400492896892?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 The coin arrived this morning, like I said .... and here's the picture I took of it. I tried to take it so that the strength of the 7 was dominant, and was surprised to have captured this image. I know what it looks like to me ... but what does this look like to you learned numismatists? To me, it looks "for all the world" like a 1917/6 overdate .... but none have ever been seen. If that's not what it is ... then how did this come to be? Nightowl
It sure looks interesting. There's something extra there under the 7. Looks like grease filled die at striking? My only concern is that the font of the 7 doesn't seem to match the other numbers. Anyway, this is a good candidate to send in for slabbing and see what the experts say.
Personally, I think you would be wasting your money on a coin worth essentially melt. Could be a little die chip along with PMD, but nothing to add value that I can see.