What is the mint mark on Half Dime

Hello, I have 5 dimes that came as a set. The half dime appears to show a faint mint mark but its hard to tell due to the coloring. Im not sure if it is really tarnished or if it is from the dye. The rest of the set didnt have the coloring. I wanted to know if there is a way to see the mint mark better without cleaning the coin. I have only been able to see it when held at a certain angle in outdoor lighting. Its been difficult to get a pic that shows clearly and so far these are best I could get without cleaning it.

Can anyone see a mark and what do you think it is?



This one is not double it was the photo.

 

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Tarnished Half Dime Mint Marks

I can see them but I dont know if the pics are showing - so I will try again

 

I do not see a mintmark in the first photo. The secon photo is too blurred to see any details. Try using a tripod or something to hold the camera steady.

If the coin had a mintmark I don't think it would be hidden by the toning that coin has. I think it is a Philadelphia-Mint coin.

 

Is it the same coin in both photos ?

Photo #2 looks like an "S" to me, but #1 looks clearly like no MM

 

Half Dime Mint Mark

Yes, its the same coin. The mark appears to be very light and only slightly raised. The top pic is just held at a different angle with more lighting but is actually darker than appears.

 

Mintmark location may be above or below the wreath depending on the date of the coin. Check your Red Book for mintmark location for the year your coin was minted. (I don't believe you told us what year your coin was minted.) If the mintmark is supposed to be below the wreath the year your Half Dime was minted then whatever you are looking at is not a mintmark.

 

I can make out an "S" in both pics.

As for seeing it better, DO NOT CLEAN THE COIN. PERIOD. The only answer I can give you is a loupe. As for taking a pic, light at the right angle is the answer. An LED flashlight might help. However, the biggest thing I can see you doing to get better pix is to hold the camera sill. Set teh camera on something, hold it against something, get a tripod, but do somethig to hold the camera still.

 

There's no mint mark on this coin I think what you are seeing is the result of a scratch or a hit or something else in the area on thet coin could be a die chip no mint mark /

We need better pics made those pics are so blurry i don't see how anybody could even see anything. I zoomed in about 400 hundred times magnification,and it was still hard to tell there was no MM

JC

 

For starters what is the date on the half dime? The reverse type tells me it is 1860 - 1873. During that period there is only one year with an O mintmark 1860 and its mintmark would be below the bow. If it is any other year and it has a mintmark it has to be an S. Now the mintmark would be below the bow if it is dated from 1860 to 1869 or 1873. It would be above the bow if it is 1870 or 1871. 1872 comes both ways. So we need to know the date to know for sure where to look. Also if it is an 1861 or 62, there were no mintmarks in those years.

 

Great minds think alike, Conder.

 

I guess my monitor is better than I thought. I really do see an "S" in both pics, the right shape and in the right place - above the bow.

 

Here is the best I could amp it up and an outline that is at least close to what I am seeing.

 

Where you are showing us the mm ,that;s not the proper place for it, it;s under the bow you are pointing out under the I and it;s to far up above the bow for it to be another date coin so there's not a mm there.See where the mm goe's , but yours is to far north for that and to much to the west.

JC

 

Read conder's reply. He is correct. And, we are talking about a half dime, not a dime.

And here is a pic.

 

OK my mistake.
JC

 

Half Dime Mint Mark

Sorry about the pic - I need to take some better ones. The coin is in my saftey deposit box at the bank so I wasnt able to post other pics now but I will.

The mark should be above the wreath not below the wreath as RLM stated and I have gotta agree with him. I see the S in every pic I have taken as well as when held at different angles it showed pretty clearly and slightly raised. But if it is really in fact there it is was a lightly pressed mark. I did have several others see it that I showed it to but wanted to get an opinion if others would see it in a photo as well (I'll see if I can take some better pics and post it later).

Thanks for the input....

 

Well now that I realize it;s a half dime it doe's look like a S in that area I zoomed it to 400 times magnification so it doe's apear to be an S in that location.

JC

 

Good to know im not the only one to see the S...Thanks for the info - much appreciated.

 

Phantom Mint Mark?

These may be abit better than the other photos. :bigeyes: Although I can see the mark, may be just an illusion?:vanish:

 

put me in the Philly camp. While I can see what others are speaking about, I don't believe that it is a m/m