Hello everyone! I am very new at studying coin varieties and errors. I am aware there is often much debate between a coin being an error or a variety; nevertheless, it seems intuitive to me that certain abnormalities found on a coin would preclude it from mere error status. The long and the short is this, I found a very unusual lincoln cent it is a 1941 and instead of the first one being oriented north and south it is oriented northeast and southwest, and it is about 2/3s the length of a normal 1. I can’t find in any error or variety publications - how do I determine if it is an error or a variety? Can anyone help? Thanks!
There are many "slanted ones & sevens even nines in coins! There are many "slanted ones & sevens even nines in coins! Look closely to see if the leg of the number has been hit or scooted?
Thanks for the help I appreciate it!!! This does not appear to be anything that could have happened to the coin in circulation. It is enough of a slant that it is visible without an eyepiece, the top and bottom of the number point at about 2 o'clock and 8 o'clock. Could it be that different and still be just a one time error, especially when the 1 is so much shorter than normal? Thanks again!
Here is an over-simplified explanation. The US Mint manufactures dies and the US Mint manufactures coins. Think of these as two different finished goods manufactured in two separate production processes. The die is a piece of manufacturing machinery used in the coin production process. A Mint Error coin is caused by an abnormal occurrence in the coin production process. A Variety is caused by an abnormal occurrence in the die production process. This anomaly in the die will be evident on every coin struck by this die in the coin production process.
I get what you are saying about the difference between and error and a variety, it seems pretty common sense to me. That being said I have also read a number of place that new varieties are discovered from time to time - so my question still remains - is it an error or a variety, furthermore if it is an error can anyone venture a plausible explanation for it? It would seem to me that it would have had to been in the dye and not just a strike mishap, but then again I am new to this, so please be patient with me! Thanks.
It's not an error or variety it's post mint damage It's not an error or variety it's post mint damage - as you gain more experience you will be able to discern things like this better. There is not any question about this coins damage.
Probably a bag mark caused from another coin. I was looking at the wrong end of the date. The last digit can be affected by a coin wrapper or grease strike through part of the 7 leaving it as 1941/. I seen one of these before.
How about an extreme close-up of the date? I would want to see more of the date to see what happened. From this picture I agree with the others.
