This looks like a RPD to me on the 90. Is this a documented variety? Another general question. I notice a few coins with the very smooth field as seen here. Is this due to very little corrosion vs the ones that show more granularity under high magnification? It is an IHC.
I see something in the lower loop of the last 0, but I'm unsure about what it is. It may well be some die chatter. RPDs on Indian Cents normally show more raised metal. Even if the first punch was mostly polished away, something a little deeper survives--at least for the RPDs catalogued.
Again this is machine doubling over the 0 is dirt / crud. Over the 9 may be a die chip closer images would determine that. This is not an over date or RPD. I could post a hundred images of coins where they show the same type of MD in the date or lettering . Look at the two images posted one an 1854 SLH the other an 1858 FEC I only wish these were RPD's
More pictures of MD on bronze IHCs would probably be educational for collectors here. Most of the MD I've seen is on the CuNi cents, in particular the FE cents as you pictured above.
What about this coin? http://www.ebay.com/itm/1882-Indian...12?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item58bc3e5220
That is most definitely an RPD. It's the 1882 Snow-1, which explains why bidding got so high. Compare the RPD in the enlarged pic below to the S-1 markers shown on this page.
Please help me understand how to distinguish this from the MD in the 1890. Why is there no doubling in the 8?
The 1882 Snow-1 is different because it's been researched/documented. It's also has the "look" of many other RPDs--clear definition and good separation from the primary digits--only a repunching could explain it. The marks in the 1890 date are light enough to possibly be MD or perhaps some marks on the date punch themselves that transfered to the die--just a few possible explanations. Check out this site for listings of documented RPDs, doubled dies and MPDs (misplaced dates).
From the pictures supplied from that e bay link I personally would of never bid it. Your enlarged images truly tells a different story.
In response to the OP, it is my honest opinion that this is the 1890 RPD-008 or Snow-11. This is my first post, and I'm attempting to attach JimG's photo. I've pointed out die markers in the hair-curls and ribbon which can help identify the variety. These markers can be seen in the Snow guide if you have it. I believe the inside bottom loop of the 9 to be peculiar. It appears repunched, but also as though the engraver may have tried to repair that area; it could be die deterioration, die damage from something other than the punch, or a combination of these things. Whatever the case, it isn't smooth as it should be. The inside of the 0 has the loop of another 0 showing somewhat prominently.
I see it now--the 0/0 is an exact match for the S11 in my book--how did I miss that? I should've just gone by what I saw right off. The 9 also shows something inside the lower loop, but it's hard to tell what--it could be repunching too.
I was studying other pictures I have of this coin today. Am I seeing a MPD in the denticles between the 9 and 0?