1951 D extra mint mark

[GarryN]

John Wexler in his Aug 18 Coin World column "Varieties Notebook" includes a photo and a description of a low grade 1951 D cent with what he describes as a "D mintmark that was in a partially rotated orientation...." between the 9 and 5.
He is looking for a higher grade example. I was interested in comments. Personally, I feel the photo shows something, but calling it a D based on the photo is a bit of a stretch.

[Bob P]

Garry,
Do you have a link to the picture of this 1951D with an extra mintmark?
This is not uncommon. John Wexler sold a 1958D a month or so ago with 4 extra mintmarks (His WDDO-021 I believe). I have a few of these coins, and you can see the pics I took of them on coppercoins.com as 1958D-1MM-021. In addition, there is a 1952D (CONECA RPM #15) that has what is purported to be another mintmark under the truncation of the bust. (see the attached rather large photo). Of course there is also the 1959D with the misplaced mintmark on the last 9 of the date (see photo #2). Very collectible to some folks, but I don't think everyone is convinced that all these blunders are indeed mintmarks. (to set the record straight, I think they are.)

Bob P.

[Art]

Bob,

Nice pics. What did you use?

[Bob P]

Hi Art,
As far as the pics go, I have a set-up pretty much like Chuck has. It includes a 7.5 to 35 X stereo zoom microscope, a fiber optic light box with ring light, and the camera is a Sony FD Mavica digital. A lot of the pictures taken for the coins on coppercoins.com I have taken with this set-up. Chuck taught me how to do it, and I am still learning every day. I forgot to re-size the photos for this post which is why they are so large....but you can definitely see the detail that way!!

Bob P

[GarryN]

I dont, Bob, I only saw it in the Coin World newspaper, Aug 18. If someone has an online subscription, maybe they can post the pic?

[GarryN]

the picture shows something that is a stretch I think to call it a "D". The amomoly is a rough line that JW is calling a "D"

[Bob P]

Well, stranger things have happened I guess. If JW lists it as a 'D', then I would tend to want to agree with him, but I can't make my own determination until I see it for myself. Thanks for the info GarryN.

Bob P

[coppercoins]

Garry - Are you sure this isn't a 1953D you're talking about?

[Doug]

Bob, was that fiber optic ring illuminator box you mentioned the one sold at amber depot or do you have a dual arm box like Chuck (coinoptics) and have made modifications by adding a ring?

[Bob P]

Doug,
The fiber optic light ring is a FOSTEC that I got on Ebay. It was used, and I had to do a slight modification to the fiber optic light supply (enlargened the hole). The light box I also got on Ebay. The whole setup cost me about $165 and a little time. The box has two separate lamps and inputs controlled by a toggle swith and variable rheostat.
I prefer the light ring as it sheds light directly down on the coin from 365 degrees. I had to filter the light a little bit with paper to cut down on the glare. I think Chuck may be wanting to buya ring at some time. He seems to like the pictures I have been taking for him. Hope this answered your questions Doug.

Bob P

[Doug]

Thank you Bob. As always, your help is much appreciated!

[GarryN]

No, Chuck, it is a 1951-D. It is in the Aug 18 Coin World, I cant scan it from there. Im sure its still available on line or in a coin shop. I will send the article to you

[coppercoins]

Good deal Garry - thanks. I do not get Coin World any more, I will have to go by the coin shop and see if they still have any of that issue so I can see it for myself. I have never heard of such a variety from that year.

[GarryN]

HI guys, I saw a post somewhere discussing the Intel Play Qx3 microscope. I checked the website and Intel says thay are not supporting that microscope any longer.

So I have been looking around all the computer stores, Best Buy, Compuware, Circuit City, Radio Shack and none have any type of scope at all. The microscopes on the Cole Parmer website dont say if they have USB cables, so I dont know what to do at this point. There is a science supply store in Chicago I will check out. Any ideas?

The microscopes by National seem to be between $1400 and $500.



http://microscopeworld.com/digital/digital-microscopes-3.htm

[Robert]

I was thinking the other day about developing a new type of microscope custom made for coins. The idea is to almost automate the process of looking for RPMs and DDs.

What should such a scope do? For example, what are the best angles for viewing doubled serifs? (almost edge-on, right?)

It would be nice to be able to view both sides of the coin at one time. You need an optical lens to do the looking and perhaps a digital camera to document. Lighting is key.

Chuck, is such a thing feasible?