I was sorting through some cents, looking for the 1970-S small date and while examining the mint marks on the 1970's to go into the pile "to look at more closely" I was noticing the variations in the placement of the D mint mark. So I gathered up a few of them and took this picture: Are these variations in the placement of the "D" common for all dates, or just the 1970? Notice how some are between the 9 and 7, some are closer to the 9, and some are close to the date, while others are set much lower... the D's are all over the place. Thanks for any insight you can share.
Before 1990 all mint marks were placed on the dies by hand punching them. Thus the differing locations. On Variety coins the location of the mint mark may help in identifying the variety. Always nicer to find them that way.
If you really want to see some variations on a mintmark, look at some 1958-D's. I believe the mint workers had a party and played a version of pin the tail on the donkey. Punch the MM on the penny. ( oops, cent )
