Hello everyone, I'm confused, not sure what is considered an error on a coin and also a RPM mint mark and full bands. I submitted a few coins to NGC and paid for them to look for error's $100.00 + but contacted them and had a few questions cause I thought what I saw on my 1969 S penny was a RPM and my dime were I thought were considered full bands. When I got my coins returned all I rec'd was a grade, at first when I spoke with a young man named Marcus he told me they made a mistake and said they never looked for error's to return them, then rec'd and email from Julia she said they looked for error's and did not find any. So now I'm really confused on what to look for in coins. Can I get someone's opinions? Is this 1969 S penny a RPM? Does this dime have full bands? Thank you
The dime is not considered full bands as you have to be able to see the seperations on each band. The Cent is just machine doubling, flat and shelflike, seen in the first 96 of the date also. If it had been a RPM it would be considered as just that, a re-punched mintmark. It would be repeated on all coins struck from that die giving it the same status as a variety, not an error.
For errors try https://www.error-ref.com For information on what is considered full bands, full steps, full bell lines, etc try https://www.pcgs.com/news Type the category you want in to the search bar.
Everyone gets their own explanation over time For me, an "Error" is when a step in the process of making or placing dies on presses is altered due to a human action whether purposely or accidentally. Usually quite rare. RPM ~ Before 1990, the mint mark ( if coins made in multiple mints) was struck by 2 hammer hits on the punch, and if the punch moved from the 1st blow , it was a RPM with the second or more blow(s) . Some were quite distant ( see below) It is both a Doubled die with the date being a small date over large date and a very distant Denver RPM. Most were pulled out of circulation very rapidly. . Jim
No, the dime is not full split bands (the proper term) there is weakness/hits on the middle band such that it's not distinct.
WOW! Thank you everyone for the information, still learning about coins and so glad I'm a member on this site. Greatly appreciated
