It could be the result of a grease-filled die, but the coin is too old and the surfaces aren't in the best shape to be able to say for sure. Chris
This coin shows wear. The initials could be missing, but probably have either worn off, or there could have been grease or debris in the die preventing the letters. If the coin was in excellent condition, and then there were no letters you would have something. I know there's a Kennedy half variety with the missing designer initials. I didn't know there was a Lincoln cent as well.
Area's of detail are often missing from US coins for various reasons. especially cents as they strike untold billions and aren't quite as concerned with quality control.
Usually grease filled dies are not worth much, the ones that carry a premium are the coins with abraded dies, Grease filled dies usually show some of the initials when examined under a loupe. 69D has a missing FG. The ones that are valuable also have a floating roof. I cant recall but they also show some die polishing in the area.
Certainly looks like grease, not wear. The letters of "States of" and the "E" in the motto also look weak, and the roof looks floating to me, but there is plenty of detail in other places. I am not familiar with the 69-D variety, but is it possible the same thing happened in 70, or even the same reverse die was used for a while?
Not a big favorite in the variety world, anymore . How can you make a big deal on a coin, when the variety has no early die state . There was no variety on this die, til the mint polished off the designer signature, and the floating roof too ...
Anybody still looking at this?? Is the missing designer mark a variety for the 1970 D penny? I have one as well, but there are also cracks on the reverse, mostly from the "us" in Pluribus through the"e" in America. Are these mint errors? Thanks!
Wow, you're right! I didn't even know that's a thing. Cool. What do you think that crack texture is? A die crack maybe? Thanks a lot!
