Everyone's favorite! Being facetious! Pennies!

I have some questions about these pennies. This may be common, but I'm trying to learn. Thank you to everyone who has been patient with me!!☺️ I wondered if these extra circles around the coins is normal. The 1987 one seems to have a lot at the bottom, and another 87 seems to be strange at the top. I968 one seems to have Lincolns' shirt dripping over it. Is all this just normal?

 

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Most of the time the extra circle around the edge of the coin is caused by die deterioration. It can also be caused by a slightly misaligned die. The US Mint overworks their dies. IMO the 1980 looks like a slightly misaligned die and the 1987 D looks like it was struck by a worn (deteriorated) die. If you need a more technical reason why they look that way, @mikediamond; @Fred Weinberg; @desertgem; et al are experts in this area.

 

If a person was trying to put together a set from pocket change or other circulation outlets, these would be perfect examples.

 

In 1968 a new Lincoln cent master die was made for the 1969 minting year.
The master obverse die used in 1968 was made in 1916 and really had been used to long. It is they reason the letters touch the rim of the coin.
The new 1969 master hub is also the beginning of the lower relief dies.
These two coins show the the difference of the new die.

 

@alurid, that's a terrific reply.

You inspired me to put together this animation that shows the same thing. We don't need to compare the reverses, since the memorial reverse had only been in use for 10 years and was still in good shape. The obverse is where the differences lie.

In addition to the extra space between the rim and the lettering, notice the increased detailing in the hair and beard. The folds in the jacket are also better defined. The lettering is crisper and thinner in 1969 than 1968. Even the initials V.D.B. under the shoulder are easier to read.

 

Think of it as yourselves being young and thin waisted and over time you start to overlap your belt and become distorted Jim

 

Pennies are great! Not being facetious at all! I started coin collecting as a kid in the 1980s when my aunt gave me a handful of change after shoveling snow off her driveway, and a wheat penny was included.

 

Good pic's

 

Thank you, and thank you for the sites as well. Pretty much just regular coins tho, right?

 

I never knew this. Thank you for the great information. I have noticed over the years when looking closely at pennies, from both pre and post 1968, there were differences with the lettering touching/not touching the rim. But I never focused just on that. Now I know the story behind it. Interesting.

 

Gotcha, and thanks. I sent them full sized instead if thumbnail as requested. Ha! I'm actually surprised I figured it out.☺️

 

Thank you! This explains so much! I've always wondered about that.

 

Hahahaha!!!

 

I never knew this either. I'm glad I asked!

 

Thank you

 

I was just joking. I absolutely love pennies and have hundreds of them. I have a ton of shield pennies. I just think they're pretty. I have several wheat pennies. I would love to have an Indian Head penny. My mom is English so I even collected a few pence while I was there in the 1970's

 

I'm just using my Android...

 

Ha! I did something and didn't even know it!! Hahahaha! ( The beginning and ending of a die)

 

My dad has some pennies and half-pennies from the 17 and 1800s that I hope to inherit some day.