Possibly a die crack. Not an RPM, since they are punched into the master die. (But, Mike will be along shortly to correct me if I am wrong.)
Interesting. I agree iwth Frank that it's not an RPM. For a few reasons, One is the reason Frank posted, and that clears it up totally, but also because it doesn't have the same shape of the P mintmark. If this was another P punched into the dies I think we would see more of the P in the "hole" of the P. (See pic' #5) It really doesn't look like Machine doubling though..... Wait around and see what Mike thinks--- Speedy
My assumption would be a combination of a rotated MM combinded with VLDS Die. This is only a assumption. Those are very nice picture's. Rhubarb
I will try to take more pics today, But there seems to be extra stuff in the N, W, and U, of IN GOD WE TRUST. You can see it a little on the full Obverse pic I took. What causes that?
Looks like either a die chip, or some crud just got on the die and caused this. Although, could be wrong. Quite interesting to say the least, nice find. :thumb: Phoenix
Thanks for the comments on my pics! Here is what my Work Station looks like ( kinda rough on my neck ).
Got it. The key is the picture that shows the whole motto and the mintmark. What you are seeing is die chipping. It is what is causing the lumps in the letters and on the P the die is chipping at the top of the letter and along the lelt side of the P and then on further to the southwest at the foot. The initial pictures of just the mintmark made it look like something was "floating" above and to the right of the main P. But the larger view makes it clear that it is die chipping to the left which is not comeing UP to the level of the top of the P. What I saw as the "floater" in the first pictures is actually the main mintmark. (Something has hit the foot of the P and flattened it some.)
Yes those lumps you see in the N, W, and U were all cause by chips of the die breaking away. Those chips are larger of course. The chipping that is going on alongside the mintmark is more akin to "crumbling" as very small chips are continuously breaking off along the edge of the P.