Have a few questions about this coin. How does in God we trust get that far up to the rim when it doesn't even look off center? The mint mark doesn't look like the one used in 68. I should have screenshot it for that year but the sheriff's are missing. Is that machine doubling on The 6 and the 8, bottom ,in the date? I see nothing on the reverse as always much appreciated. sorry for the double pics
Rim damage or wear? It's been circulating for 55 years so it's entirely possible. Show Pic. of the edge please? Question? Sheriffs? Are those the guys looking for @green18 , perhaps?
There were over a quarter-billion of these minted so I wouldn't be placing too much confidence in that statement. The close-up is fuzzy but not so much you can't make out the strike doubling. And the '68-S as well as '69-S are notorious for that. I know, they were shot. But not the deputy, lol...
In 1969 the dies were modified, relief was lowered to give a more consistent striking of the details. The mushy look you see on your coin was the main reason.
In 1969 the US MINT introduced a new design of the US Cent. The overall design theme didn’t change but all the dies and hubs wore out of the previous design, which were originally made in 1916. So for the run up to 1968 cents expect to see a lot of coins as the result of worn dies. From Master Hub/Die overuse, the lettering encroached up against the rim, was common for that era. The master hub was mushing and spreading really badly. As the hub spreads out the lettering moves further and further out from the center. Then when they would turn the dies down to the proper diameter the lettering was crowding into the rim. In 1969 they finally junked the old master die and created a brand new one with lower relief, smaller bust, and the lettering moved in closer to the center.
You guys amaze me I've learned a while ago not to think you can only learn so much and then there's no more to learn. It's a never ending profession. My hat is off to all of you, much appreciated.
@Jjpe, the '68-S is a good find, it's a hard find. Even though there were 258,270,001 minted, it's the lowest memorial cent mintage.
