Welcome to the variety nickel forum. I have come across something that may prove to be verrrrrriiiy interesting.Found it in pocket change, kept it because it's an obvious RPM, a wonderfull S/S. When I looked closer, the 40 in the date is different than the 19.The 19 looks like it was struck from a slightly worn die, or the die was formed from a worn hub. Either explaination would suffice as the 19 matched the rest of the numbers and letters on the coin. The 40, however, is different. These two numbers are 'fresher'. They are in higher relief than the 19. They are more broad, as if made from a different style of punch. And the 40 shows less rounding as might be seen in a later die state(like the 19). I also noticed that the 4 was doubled. The 0 looks doubled also, but only very slightly. And there are HEAVY die polish lines around the 40,and some die polish lines on most of the coin. The entire die was polished, but it was still in good shape. There are no heavy flow lines common to an overused,erroded die. I think you will agree, after looking at the pics that the 40 is way different from the 19. Inside the top third of the 0, I may be imagining the faint loop of the inside bottom of the closed part of a 9. And at the base of the 0 there is what might be the bottom tail end of a 9. As you probably know, after staring at a coin for long periods, looking for that tiny diagnostic that will prove it is special, we start to see things that may or may not be there. I have put this coin down and checked it again many times. Don't know if my idea will hold water, but I think the die was a 1939 reworked and used for 1940 coins. The thing that is undeniable is the difference between the numbers 19 and 40. Please leave your thoughts,if only a few words. Here are the pics. P.S. Notice the notching at the top of the T trust.
Speedy- Does Wiles show it as a 40/39 or 0/9? I kinda see what the OP is saying about this coin and am curious. Thanks- Mike
No he doesn't.... While I see what the OP is talking about I don't think that this is a 40/39. What looks like the bottom of the is under the 0.....that would be a 9 not a 3. Then again, maybe I'm missing something. I'm not totally sure about how all of the die making and such work---I've read some about it but it is a really large subject that would take years to really understand....so take this for what its worth..... I wouldn't doubt that the 40 would look newer. The master die would be made and re-worked each year with a new date...since the first two numbers didn't need changing I would say that sometimes if they weren't in bad shape they just left them and fixed the last two numbers. I'll try to check out some more of my data around here and see if there is any talk about this date... Speedy
As Speedy said this is listed as CONECA RPM-001. No 40/39 variety listed. Think its just die wear your seeing. Great find!
40/39 repunched date, RPM #1 Thanks to all. The comment about reworking the master die fits well. The only marker on my coin is a tiny crack lower rt. side of bldg. to rim. I guess that the notched T, (trust) makes it a doubled die RPM.. Coin Talk-- Ya gotta love it! Bone Head :headbang:
Hey Speedy, Been thinking,(gets me in trouble), --Maybe it didn't show up well on the photo, but the faint 39 underneath is visible.Including the tail of the 9 under the 0, which I mixed up. And the 40 is obviously doubled, an indication of hand stamping. Plus , the 1939 OBV was unchanged But the production change in early1939 to the NEW (rev of 40) master die, hubs working dies Etc.could easily have affected the production numbers of the 1939 obverse dies. So I think, (in trouble again?), its likely that the coin in question was produced from a reworked '39 die, not a hub, and then date was punched over the abraided 39 in the working die, possibly a used proof die. Whew! that could be confusing.If the 40 was changed on the master die then there would many, many of those coins w/ doubled 4. I suspect someone would have noticed and listed it. I just checked several other '40-Ss and they do not have the 4 dbld. Any one here in the die variety forum have any more info, or thoughts?..........Bone Head
Your best bet would be to ask James Wiles--CONECA. They have a forum now for questions about such varieties but it isn't very active. He has been at this game so long that I'm sure he would have some type of answer. Speedy
