That 4 is falling off the coin

[jsindaco]

If it was any more crooked, it would be laying on its side.
Can anyone else see this? The mintmark looks rotated too.

[coppercoins]

If the picture was straightened out the 4 wouldn't be leaning.

There can't be such a thing as leaning letters and digits on Lincoln cents. Every Lincoln cent die was created using the hubbing technique which impressed the entire design into the die at the same time. Letters were not carved or cut into the dies, this practice ended with the large cents.

[jsindaco]

I'll take a straighter picture...but won't that make the other numbers lean?

What about the leg on this 'R' ? Is that the normal shape? I never realized it was so fancy.

[coppercoins]

Yes, that R is normal, the E in your other picture (of WE) is in the normal position, and the date on your 1964 cent is completely normal.

Letters don't lean or tilt from one coin to another - it just doesn't happen. You can rest assured that any leaning or tilting on one coin is going to be exactly like another coin of the same design (date and mintmark) except in the case of the mintmarks, which were placed into each individual die by hand...and those oly have premium value when they are doubled.
Errors and die varieties are two completely different things. For errors, they would have to be dramatic enough to not fit into a normal roll for them to have much value, and die varieties all show doubling to some degree. Coins like these are the ones you should watch for, don't worry about tilting in design elements...it's normal.

[jsindaco]

Boy, what a perfect pin to bust my balloon
you certainly let me go on long enough about it, though.
I guess you can really get a good laugh on us newbs...OLE

And to Mr. Piazza: That's a fine picture you have in the book. Except you say you've been collecting for over 35 years. Well, they seem to be mutually exclusive facts...I might be way off base but I feel the urge to ask: what year was that picture taken

[Bob P]

So...In other words...I hold my age well?? Actually, that pic is only about 2 or 3 years old. I have been collecting pennies since I was 12 (and since I am about to be 49, that is actually 37 years). It has only been the past few years since I have gone head first into variety collecting, but have thousands of coins put away that I looked at as a kid...saw something different or unique about them, and stored them away.

As far as one point or suggestion I can make to you is...don't try to look for or see more on these coins than is actually there. Errors and varieties are a different animal all together. We will help you out here as much as we can, but understand that our knowledge base on errors might be considerably less than that of varieties. Either way, we will help...OK??

[smed]

I won't say how old he looks in person....

*snicker*

j/k!!!

[jsindaco]

You must be some kinda' Dick Clark type...I would have bet money that the picture was older than you were when it was taken. Figure that one out

[jsindaco]

Was it a good picture, at least? Other than blowing the debris off of the coin, could I have done something better?

[Bob P]

Thanks Smed...maybe someday, I can return the compliment

jsindaco...There's nothing wrong with your picture taking skills. It is not an easy thing to do. If I could make one suggestion (and I don't know if you have control over that or not), it would be that the pic needs to be a little bit brighter, and a tad better focused. If you look on the site, you can see some of the horrible pics I took, and the improvements I made taking those pictures over the course of the past couple of years. Lighting, focus, color balance..all that stuff was foreign to me until Chuck taught me. As time goes on, we all find little ways to improve. The equipment has a lot to do with it also, but I can very easily see what you're pointing out...so that's the most important thing.

NOW....Dick Clark type I am not, but that wouldn't be so bad anyway you look at it. Thanks!

[jsindaco]

It's amazing how I can see exactly what you mean...but only after you pointed it out. The brightness & focus are obviously inferior to those fancy coins y'all have as your symbols.