I orginally posted this picture in the "Roll Searchers" thread, but I guess it's a bit "off topic" for that discussion. I was searching some rolls of 1946s Roosevelt dimes recently and came across six (6) of these dimes in one of the rolls. The "U" in "E PLRIBUS UNIM" is nearly missing. I can only see a very faint trace of about half of the letter. The "L" and "R" on either side are weak nearest the "U", also. Initially, I thought it was a grease filled die. However, I don't understand how that affected the letters on either side of the olive branch, but not the olive branch itself...which appears very well struck. The only other possibility I can think if is a hubbing error of some sort. Here's a picture of two of the dimes. I'm interested to know what you think might have caused this. (I'm new to coin photography...please pardon the quality of the pics).
I originally thought "grease filled die", but how does the grease fill the letters on either side of the olive branch, but not the olive branch itself? The same goes for the "weak strike" theory. The olive branch has a strong strike, but he letters on either side of it are weak...just doesn't seem to make sense. I'm not suggesting this is anything special...I'm just trying to understand how it could have happened. The only explaination that makes sense (to me) is that the die had a weak hubbing...but I'm just learning. I really appreciate your responses.
