Ok. First off, I have to say this was a major shot in the dark, but kind of a cheap way to have fun, with a very small potential for a large payoff. I have been studying intently the die characteristics for the 1888/7 indian head overdate variety. I have been looking at the "sold" auctions for the snow-1 variety on heritage(there are quite a few of them). here is the link: http://coins.ha.com/common/search_results.php?Ntt=1888/7 indian&Ntk=My_ItemTitle&N=51+790+231 Anyways, if you notice in the closeup pics of these indian heads, the overdaye is VERY difficult to see, even with closeup magnification. The interesting thing is that each of these coins has a signature mark, a rim break in the denticals on the obverse, at 9oclock that has a consistent pattern on each of the examples. So, I decided to start looking for this characteristic on a plethora of 1888 indian examples being offered on ebay(most of the pictures are not magnified enough to view the actual 7). Out of the 30 or so I saw, I did find one(pretty worn), that had a marking of the same consistency and location of the overdates. However, the coin is pretty worn, and the picture isn't super clear. Chances are it is just a rim scuff that emulates the pattern on the overdates. It was being sold by a non-dealer/collector, and I easily picked it up for $5....so no harm done, just a shot in the dark. There is a very vague shadow under the eight, that could be a protruding seven(though once again, very doubtful). I have circled all of these characteristics on the coin. I don't expect anyone to determine whether or not this is the overdate yet by the listed characteristics; as this isn't nearly enough of an accurate picture to determine this. But I was wondering if anyone knew of additional die characteristics on this error coin that could either confirm or deny this as an overdate? Or does anyone know if this characteristic rim break occurs on non-overdate 1888 indians? thanks, John
Get the rick snow book - it shows a picture. Rick Snows book says 3 denticles worth. So it becomes - is it a well placed hit or actually the overdate? Not sure. At that price I think it was worth the gamble. Do you have a microscope?
thanks. yeah, i may end up getting that book if I see this coin in hand, and it turns out not to be just a well placed hit. Don't have a microscope, but I can get access to one. JB
