Hello all, I hope that varieties belong in this error section. It seems like the most logical sub-forum available. My question: For 1963-D quarters, both NGC and PCSG attribute a FS-101 variety. NGC doesn't have any photos of the variety, and I think PCGS has different die-states/varieties in their three examples... their third example has a crack across the ribbon (like my coin) but the first two don't. I also looked at "Variety Vista" and think I have the variety they call DDO-001... which is very similar to mine, except they don't show a picture of the ribbon or mention a die crack. This has me quite confused, so any help would be appreciated! P.S. Sorry for the lighting on the close-ups, this one posed a challenge in that respect. I did the best I could to highlight the "doubling" on the "G" and "O".... the rest is distracting glare. Also, there is some mechanical damage on "D WE", which I tried to exclude but couldn't Crack across ribbon and bust:
If nothing else, is there a better online database for varieties other than NGC, PCGS, or VarietyVista?
Do you see how both sides of this arm on this U appear doubled? Check this out on the other letters in this motto, too. This is strike doubling.
Oh, I have been fooled by machine doubling, for sure. I actually assumed thats what this was.... until I looked at examples online. Many of the examples I saw had symmetrical doubling such as what you pointed out. Maybe those examples just happened to have both DD and strike doubling?
BUT, in hindsight, I think the arms of my "U" are much skinnier than those examples.... which if I recall correctly is a symptom of machine doubling.
Wexler's site show the crack across the ribbon: https://doubleddie.com/721655.html Also, the images on Varietyvista.com and doubleddie.com show a combination of a Doubled Die and Mechanical Doubling on the same coin.
I don't see anything that resembles FS101. The coin shows an extreme case of Die Deterioration. There isn't any notching in the devices, or separation lines. It is a nice looking quarter, and great photos @Kipling79 .
There is also a possibility that what we are actually seeing in these pictures, primarily the "IGWT" shot, is just the very top (most elevated) portion of the lettering and the lowest portion of each letter where it meets the coin. Because the letters are widest at the base and get more narrow moving up to the top. Pix can be deceiving.
The microscope I use is almost "too good", and not helping the problem you mention. The field of view is so sensitive at this extreme close-up, if I focus on the top of the device then the field (and sometimes side of device) is not quite in focus, and vice versa. It takes some effort to replicate in a photo what I see with a loupe. It doesn't help that when zoomed in this far I am dependent on the built in LEDs (glare), and can't get any side lighting in. Maybe I need to come in at a 45 degree angle or so and get a focused shot, from the field to the top of the device & with better lighting, for shots like these.
I really can't tell you anything about how your scope works, one thing I will say is that taking photos from above is always the best option, no matter what camera you are using.
