In going through some cent coins I purchased at an auction, I came across a 1978 D small date cent. I compared it to another 1978 D and it is definately a small date (like the 1960 small date cent)( on this coin the numbers are wider in width than others) Is there any information on this coin?, I have researched all of the books and literature I have on coins and can not come up with any information pertaining to this coin?.
I have not heard of such an animal yet. If I were you, I would gather as many 1978-D cents as possible, and see if there are any others with the same characteristics. If not, you have a possible slim possibility of a new variety. But don't get your hopes up, it's probably not an easy or fast process.
Thanks for the information, Tapper. I am in the process of placing all of my coins in wrapper sleves and marking the roll # on each so I can look up the roll # of each sleeve that contains any 78 D's. This information is on a spreadsheet in the computer. I just purchased some 3300 cent coins at an auction of a lady who worked in a bank for a number of years and the coins date back to the 1900's to 2005. Larry
Thanks for the web page information FA, I went there and found no "1978 D" listed so maybe I have found something odd or maybe as quartertapper said, look for more as this coin is definately from this area and maybe there are more like it in my collection. thanks again, Larry
It could be a rare variety and would be quite valuable as such. There are more likely possibilities though. There are still unknown varieties cropping up because people never paid much attention to coins made after 1964. Some dies are poorly hubbed. The hub is pice of steel with the image of the coin in it. Rather than being opposite the coin it looks just like the coin. These hubs are pressed into the softened steel die multiple times to make the entire image show up. The die steel has to be heatened to soften it in between impressions. If the hub isn't impressed deeply enough the letters, numbers, and features will be a little smaller on coins struck from that die. It sure would be nice to see a picture. Good luck on having a discovery coin.
Photos would be nice. There is a 1978-D doubled die obverse which has a wider appearance of the numerals due to the doubling. A relatively minor DDO, but it might be the reason you noticed it. I would bet more on this than a new variety. http://www.coppercoins.com/lincoln/diestate.php?date=1978&die_id=1978d1do001&die_state=mds Welcome to the forum! Jim
