So what do you folks make of this coin? It's a 1943-P Mercury dime which not only has a clearly tripled date, Liberty, and several letters in the motto, but also has a tail on the 4, which may, or may not be a repunched date. As I have never seen one, and have no reference, I was wondering what some of the experts may think. Every so often, I buy a roll of dimes, simply for the bullion and the fun of picking through them to find that rare diamond in the rough. This roll was particularly kind to me as I managed to find a 1945 micro S, along with the coin I have pictured. The top two photos are of the full coin, obverse and reverse. The last photo shows the tail on the 4....no, its not damage as the metal is clearly raised. Of course it could be a die break. I guess I was wondering how common it was to repunch dates in 1943? As most know, the 1942 had that wonderful error of being punched over a 1941. This coin appears to be similar, although not as pronounced and, as far as I know, undocumented. Just wondering what everyone's opinions are. Maybe if Bill Fivaz or JT Stanton are tuned in to this thread, they may add this to the book! (Smile). Please let me know. All comments are welcome. Note, the photos do not do justice to the tripling, but the letters are clearly tripled when looking at the raw coin. The tripling is rather dramatic, so I posted it here.
@Jim K It looks like die deterioration to me. Sadly, JT passed away last year. R.I.P. my friend! Chris
Wow! I can't believe someone actually used the correct terminology.. Tripled Die.. I'm so impressed at this very moment! (Even though it is not)
Machine doubling ( most of the doubling appearance ) with some die deterioration adding the tripling effect such as the date. Fun coin to look at and have even though it isn't particularly more valuable. The date wasn't punched in separately, it would be the hubbing process which for business strikes was almost always 2 pressing, so tripling would not be possible with the normal business strikes, but maybe with proofs. Jim
I am sorry to hear of JT's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. I assume the die deterioration is also responsible for the tail on the 4. I suspected that would be a die break....but a nice (and very cool) die break.
I have never claimed to be a professional numismatist. In fact, just the opposite. As someone who simply enjoys the hobby, I am clearly an amatuer collector, which is why I am on this site...smile. On a true double die, I am thinking I need to pay attention to the serif's or the pointed tops and bottoms of the numbers and letters to see if they are doubled...or tripled.
Thanks for the information Jim. This one made me wonder as there is clear tripling of the numbers and letters, which is why I wondered if this perhaps got stuck in the die for a third or fourth pass. I have never seen a Mercury like this one. A few have displayed machine doubling, but to a much lesser extent. I'll still hang on to this coin. I think its pretty cool, and who knows, if more are found with the "Tail" on the 4, it may someday find its way into the listings of errors.
Oh sure, I knew it was well circulated. I bought a roll of Mercuries for the bullion for like $60.00 and the fun of picking them. I still did well finding a decent 1945 micro 'S' and a 1944-D which is definately an extra fine if not AU. I got my moneys worth out of the roll. Too often rolls of silver have been picked to death...this one was not.
Smile...the arrows are kind of difficult to insert. I added them as the photos do not really show the tripling effect very well and was hoping to "point out" the areas that could be seen in the pics. I did not mean to get surgical with the analysis....lol.
Since you seem to be amiable to learning, also I present this about doubled dies up to the middle of 1990s, when they started single squeeze hubbing . With the old double squeeze hubbing, both of the images should be about the same height ( see below) Notice where the images cross each other ( to of 9) you can tell they are close to the same height. Below , notice that when the images overlap. the total width increases ( 1 full die over lapping part of a 2nd) Whereas in MD, they are not the same height, one normal and one flattened, and the width of the normal height one is less than the original. Sometimes the difference is very small and careful looking has to be used and maybe use a ruler on the screen to compare width. After 1995 I am a denier Jim
I don't think that is deterioration. It may just be a die break with a lot of wear from 76 years of circulation. Chris
This is for the dude who wanted to see the 1945-S Micro S Mercury I found in the same roll. Well circulated, but decent for the price of only $1.30.
