Look at this Mercury Dime.http://www.ebay.com/itm/1921-P-Silv...t=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item5d3140b24fDoes it look like it is a D instead of a P. I know it is a low grade, but it looks like a 1921-d to me.
From what I can make out, that is a "D". I would be far from the first time a mistake like that was made.
i don't see a "D"... this is for sure an example of why i don't trust/believe in tpgs. some say yes, others say no. always buy the coin, not the slab.
Well, there is a mark on the reverse where the "D" should be, and it looks something like the top of a "D". It's too obvious to be missed, so I assume the TPG determined it was PMD.
This is the OP's coin in question This is a D mintmark on the back of a Genuine 1921-D The position of the pseudo D on the OP is roughtly correct, however I think there is slightly more space between that last leaf and the start of the D on the genuine D coin. Next, look at the slant of the top of the D on the genuine 1921-D ... it drops off to the right very distinctly and quickly Now look at the D on the OP's coin. It sort of bumps up a bit before dropping off . It also curves back attempting to close the D too fast (soon) The OP's coin is not a true Denver mint but has some post mint damage ... it does fool the naked eye a bit tho JMHO
Or it's a mint mark with a ding on it. Either way, with something like this, when the TPG had the coin in hand and the ability to look at it closely with a glass, twist it, turn it, and then judge - as opposed to us looking at a picture and judging ? I'm gonna go with the TPG every time.
Like Doug, I would go with the TPG, (or any experienced dealer/collector), who has the coin in hand versus someone looking at a photo. Being able to see 30 angles of the coin versus 1 is always superior. Without perfect evidence from a photo I would never be so bold as to second guess someone who has seen a coin in hand. Photos have huge, distinct, disadvantages. Having said that, the OP coin clearly has a mintmark, and since P was not ever on a mercury dime, I will say in this case it is an error. If PCGS had said its an S versus a D I would have been more hesitant to second guess them.
Well, You had me on the first paragraph, and I am going with the TPG for the exact reasons you and Doug said. Mike
I know it sounds like I was talking out of both sides of my mouth, sorry. I will 98% of the time go with whoever sees the coin, but with the positioning of the top of the D being perfect, and the fact I own a 21d nearly identical to this coin, leads me to believe its a typo by the TPG. Unfortunatle TPG do not warrant against these errors, conveniently saying they are typos so they aren't responsible for the error. Bottom line I consider this coin to be in the "perfect photo" evidence in my book. Most of the time this isn't the case. Chris
Actually, if PCGS had labeled it a 1921-S rather than 1921-D, I think I'd be more inclined to second-guess them.
I have seen many that were ID wrong. One was a 1919d Standing Liberty Qt. MS 63, but inside the slab was a MS 63 1919. Big difference. The dealer was not happy. He said, that he had just had the coin slabbed, and the one he sent in was 1919d.He felt that it was a coin to be slab. This the only time, that I can remember, that made a big difference.
That's what I meant, if the slab said S and it looked like a D I would be hesitant to second guess them, but labelling it a P when it clearly has a mintmark allows me to disagree with them.
At first I thought it was just a PMD Philly coin, but I am thinking it is a Denver now. Here is another 21-D in similar condition