1912 Lincoln Matte Proof diagnostics

Mintages and die usage did vary through the years.
1910 had a mintage of 4,083 and used 2 obverse and 2 reverse dies

1911 (2411) had a mintage of almost half what 1910 used but also used 2 sets of dies

1912 (2372) used one set of dies

1913 (2983) used two sets of dies

There are two dies states listed for the 1912 obverse, early and late die states. The later die state will show additional markers not found on the early die state. There is only one die state from the reverse. It only shows markers from the master die, which were the same shown on all MPLs from 1910-14.

Some of these markers are tough to see unless the light is hitting just right. That could be one of the reasons not all Heritage photos showing the diagnostics.

 

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eddiespin, posted: "Supposing I knew all that when I said this coin is a proof. Just supposing..."

Supposing you did? Thanks for sharing.

"Right. If it were fully intact. Look at how his rim is clipped at 8:00. This coin could very well have been encased, explaining any funkiness on the rim and edge orientations. In fact, I'm beginning to think there's a better than even chance it was encased."

Come on @eddiespin, look at how nice and flat the edge on that "pseudo-proof" is. Never encased!

 

Here are some diagnostics using my 1912, which is a Late Die State.

The E in WE is doubled.



An Early Die State diagnostic is a die scratch running between ERTY in LIBERTY.
It is tough to see in this photo. You might have to use your imagination. It's easier to see with my loupe and the right light position.



Another Early Die State diagnostic is a curved die scratch between and above the 9 and 1 in 1912.



Late Die State die scratch rising from the left fork of Y in LIBERTY



Late Die State gouge between GOD and the rim



Late Die State swirly die scratches between the rim at 2 and 4 o'clock

 

Nice job documenting diagnostics, robec.

It doesn't look like an MPL to me, based on the rims alone. But nothing beats having the coin in hand.

I'd still get the coin graded and slabbed. It's a handsome coin and should grade well. Philly 1912's can be really nice. I have a 66RD I love.
Lance.

 

Believe it or not, I can pick out the early die markers and something above GOD. Or at least I think I can.

 

It's hard to express gratitude that is adequate for the time and effort that people will expend - with no reward except the love of numismatics and a nature that achieves satisfaction from helping others.

I will perform my due diligence, in turn, in the morning. I'll try to post equivalent images of the coin in question.

On last thought. This coin is just dramatically different in every visual aspect from my business strike 1912. So something is going on here...

 

Appears to have been encased. Now that I look closer at the big picture, I think I see something. I believe it may have been media blasted. Most obvious - the portrait area, especially the bust (everything below the neck), the frost appears to carry over from the fields, even the rims look a little "frosty". The reverse devices too. Hummm....

Look at Robec's 1912, notice how the devices are not frosted at all.

 

I thought there was too much frost for a business strike.
Wouldn't be the first time I was mistaken.

 

The OP's coin has rub all over the cheekbones, jaw, and above the ear. While it may ave been chemically cleaned at one time IMO, it has not been encased or bead blasted and is market acceptable. It is not a Proof.

 

I honestly hope you have one. I have no doubt there are still some in the wild.

 

I took all these pictures, but I do not see any match between these markers at all.
Here are two shots of the edge of the rim. The boundary between the rim and the field should be visible in the first several photos.


A few extra pictures are available in the thumbnails, below.