Found this Merc with a Mint Mark I have not seen. Almost looks like it is upside down.Any Thoughts or opinions will be appreciated.
It certainly looks like an inverted MM. I do remember one listed, however, it is not in Cherrypicker's guide. Neither is it in David Langs' 'Guide to Mercury Dimes'. And, I do not believe it is the Micro S.
The regular, the micro, and the op's Little hard to tell from this shot and I'm out of time. I'm sure someone will nail it down. http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o81/blauvelt407/grt1875s-horz-horz.jpg
Wow great job on the photos:bow: I pulled down so I could blow it up a little It definitely looks like the micro "S" due to the spacing between the branch and the mint mark. but it almost looks inverted due to the relationship between the serifs and the curves of the "S" Thank you very much for the comparison photos. Stewart
I've created a relatively crude composite of a 1945mS and a 1945S Mercury dime, so that one might compare the two at the same scale. I believe you can rapidly determine the difference between the two styles. It almost appears as if a portion of the lower tail end is missing, as if the die were partially filled (?). I believe you will find the top portion to be normal, as shown in the right-hand S of my image.
Here is another closeup of reg S and micro S. Micro on the right. Notice the serif is "ball" on regular and "trumpet" on micro. Jim
Very Cool Photo Comparison, Thank You, That takes care of that mystery No Micro S. Still a very through and Very informative study in the differences in mint mark styles between the two. I want to personally thank everyone who participated:thumb:
Very Well Done!! Quite Impressive!! May I ask what camera/lens was used? Please continue the fine educational efforts. :high5: :bow:
The camera is a Canon 590IS point and shoot, but it shoots through the eyepiece of a B&L Stereozoom 7-30X microscope, and that is where the resolution emerges. Jim
Veeeeery Clever!! I'm just frustrated that I didn't think of that. I've just received another "tool". Thanks, Rich :bow:
It is certainly a normal orientation (not up side down) "knob tail" A.K.A. "ball serif with flat spot on lower serif" style s mint mark. One term is from David Langs Book on Mercury dimes and the other from the CONECA club Mercury dime files. They are two terms describing the same MM style. Both references provide excellent photographs. There is an Inverted MM listed as an extremely rare in the CONECA files in the on line E book on Mercury Dimes including a photo of the Inverted S "knob tail" dime. Examine the ball serifs for the one with the flat spot on the end. It should be at the bottom in a normal position. Find a flat spot at the top serif and you have an Inverted S Mint Mark. Below see two photos of two different Inverted MM 45 s dimes in my collection.
