Okay, where do I start? I recently bought this 1888 Indian Head Penny, and when the seller had posted pictures, I thought I saw something under the date. I bought it, and now i have it in hand. The price guides say that the only over date for that year is an 1888/7. I will be truthful, and I do not see a 7 under the last 8. But I do see something! I am thinking either a "zero" or a "three". Or who knows, maybe there is a seven there? Is there a way to tell if this is an over date with out looking at the date specifically? (it is just way too small). Are there any other signs? Many thanks!
The 1888/7 is a very subtle overdate- and a very valuable one if you find it! Rick Snow told me he would pay a couple of thousand dollars for any example at all, and that was several years ago. I see what you are looking at, but the picture is not good enough to see the detail well. The odds are way against it being the overdate(there is a reason they are so expensive), but I would take care of it until I was sure. In a nutshell, the last 8 should look like it has the ears of a bear cub on it and a tiny foot at the bottom. The example that Mr. Snow showed me was an AU53 that cost 22K. I love overdates and OMMs but this was underwhelming, and worth about 4 times what my car is. Good luck! Mike
You need to post MUCH better pics for us to be able to see what you are talking about. Here are examples: Ribbit
Okay, here goes: look at the top right corner of the last 8. If it is the overdate, there would be a small top right corner of the 7 there. Nothing within the last 8, that I rememebr.
Take a look at this for a microscopic examination of the 1888/7 IHC http://www.fly-inclub.org/1888over7analysis.htm
I do not think it is an 1888/7, but I do think it is an overdate. I am wondering what the blob is doing there on the last eight on the top loop.
I can't find anything in Rick's book to help but a much better image of the date area would let us see what you are seeing.
Most of the 1888/7 overdates show an obverse cud at 9 o'clock. Cud takes up about three denticles. Total pop is around 30ish.
