Which US coins can be specifically identified by looking at the reverse alone? See exclusions.

numismapiddler

Exclude die markers, errors, patterns, and commemoratives. "Error" exclusion to include RPMs, DD, missing initials, etc.
Able to identify the specific coin, date mint, type by the reverse alone. Example: 1859 Philadelphia Indian cent. Cannot be any other date/mint/type by the reverse alone.
I have my list, interested to see what I overlooked.

Bochiman

Not enough information...

Are you asking which series of coins?
Are you asking which specific years?
Are you asking which specific years AND mintmarks?

Just not enough information as someone WILL come along and say "I can tell a wheat cent from the reverse"......well, duh!

Zoins

• Statehood Quarters
• America the Beautiful Quarters
• Presidential Dollars
• Native American Dollars
• Innovation Dollars
• First Spouse Eagles

numismapiddler

No, I mean identify the specific coin by the reverse only. Example: You can identify a 1859 Indian cant by the reverse, but you cannot identify a 1917 SLQ by the reverse because it could be a 1916 or a 17-D or a 17-S.

numismapiddler

Or, to be very specific, If the obverse was worn smooth and the reverse was clear could you identify it and slab the coin as a................ Per the 1859 indian cent above example given above.

yosclimber

So you are saying specific type, year and mintmark.

Another example would be 1851-o 3c silver.

I imagine mint mark size is included under "die markers" that don't count?
(Because it's not on the hub).
However, sometimes mint mark size is a bigger difference than the difference between 2 hubs.
If mint mark size is allowed, then the 1872-s "micro s" half dime would be an example.

And minor mint mark position (high, left, right, etc.) would be die markers.
But major mint mark position like above or below bow should not be classified as die markers.
So another example would be the 1860-o half dime - the only year where the o is below the bow.

numismapiddler

Edited OP to clarify.

yosclimber

How about the star positions on the 1868 "reverse of 1868" shield nickel?
They are in a hub.
It seems major enough to me to not be called a "die marker".
http://www.shieldnickels.net/hubs/reverseHubs.html

yosclimber

Another situation where there is a single year reverse hub is the 1892, 1892-o and 1892-s Barber quarter.
https://www.ngccoin.com/variety-plus/united-states/quarters/barber-quarters-1892-1916/816871/?page=1

numismapiddler

@yosclimber said:
So you are saying specific type, year and mintmark.

Another example would be 1851-o 3c silver.

I imagine mint mark size is included under "die markers"?
And minor mint mark position (high, left, right, etc.) would be die markers.
But major mint mark position like above or below bow should not be classified as die markers.
So another example would be the 1860-o half dime - the only year where the o is below the bow.

Yes, exactly. Thing that anyone can see. MM location counts, but position does not. Think of basic design identifiable without a 10X loupe and expert die reference materials. Besides, I don't think you could pin down the year very often by MM position without checking more subtle die markers as well.

numismapiddler

I appreciate the info and what you are saying on the shield nickel. However, I would say no, and consider things like star position beyond the scope of what most people would note looking through a pile of coins. You would need comparisons to determine the difference.
I'm kind of undecided on the quarters though. It wasn't really what I was thinking, but it is pretty easy to eyeball the uncovered E. In the end, I'd encourage you and others to list these types of things as I think it adds to the thread.
I just don't want the thread to get into VAM's and Overton varieties and such.

numismapiddler

MM size - No. Usually requires comparison and magnification to confirm. Grading services would call it a variety.

Moxie15

1793 chain cent

PerryHall

@Moxie15 said:
1793 chain cent

That one immediately came to mind when I first saw this thread.
There are several commemorative coins that can be identified by the reverse alone such as the Isabella quarter, all Pan-Pac Expo coins, the Lafayette dollar etc. Most modern commemorative and first spouse coins.
The arrow and rays quarter and half dollar.
The 1964 Kennedy half dollar.
The Bi-centennial quarter, half, and dollar.

MWallace

1. 1976 Bicentennial Quarter. Struck in 1975 and 1976 but all are dual dated 1776-1976.
2. 1976 Bicentennial Half. Struck in 1975 and 1976 but all are dual dated 1776-1976.
3. 2009 Lincoln Cent
4. 1883 “No Cents” V-Nickel.
5. 1859 Indian Head Cent
6. 1875-S 20 Cent piece.
7. 1912-D V-Nickel.
8. 1912-S V-Nickel.
9. 1851-O Silver 3-Cent piece.
10. 1964-D Kennedy Half Dollar.
11. 1909 “V.D.B.” Lincoln Cent
12. 1913 Buffalo Nickel Type 1.
13. 2000 “Cheerios” Dollar.
14. 1935-S Peace Dollar. Four sun rays on the reverse under the word “ONE”.
15. 1976 Ike Dollar Type 1 reverse. Struck in 1975.
16. 1976 Ike Dollar Type 2 reverse. Struck in 1976.

numismapiddler

@MWallace said:
1. 1976 Bicentennial Quarter. Struck in 1975 and 1976 but all are dual dated 1776-1976. - No. could be PDS or 40%
2. 1976 Bicentennial Half. Struck in 1975 and 1976 but all are dual dated 1776-1976. - No. See above.
3. 2009 Lincoln Cent - No. Could be PDS.
4. 1883 “No Cents” V-Nickel. Yes.
5. 1859 Indian Head Cent Yes
6. 1875-S 20 Cent piece. Yes
7. 1912-D V-Nickel. Yes
8. 1912-S V-Nickel. Yes
9. 1851-O Silver 3-Cent piece. Yes
10. 1964-D Kennedy Half Dollar. Yes. Good one. Thought this might get overlooked.
11. 1909 “V.D.B.” Lincoln Cent No. Could be PDS.
12. 1913 Buffalo Nickel Type 1. Yes.
13. 2000 “Cheerios” Dollar. Yes.
14. 1935-S Peace Dollar. Four sun rays on the reverse under the word “ONE”. Honorable Mention. (That's a technically "Yes".
15. 1976 Ike Dollar Type 1 reverse. Struck in 1975. No. Could be PDS or 40%
16. 1976 Ike Dollar Type 2 reverse. Struck in 1976. No. See above.

Thanks for participating.

PerryHall

@MWallace said:
11. 1909 “V.D.B.” Lincoln Cent

Both the 1909 and 1909-S use this reverse design.

numismapiddler

11. 1909 “V.D.B.” Lincoln Cent No. Could be PDS.

Correction: Could be P or S. No D.

numismapiddler

@PerryHall said:

@Moxie15 said:
1793 chain cent

That one immediately came to mind when I first saw this thread.
There are several commemorative coins that can be identified by the reverse alone such as the Isabella quarter, all Pan-Pac Expo coins, the Lafayette dollar etc. Most modern commemorative and first spouse coins.
The arrow and rays quarter and half dollar.
The 1964 Kennedy half dollar.
The Bi-centennial quarter, half, and dollar.

Commemoratives - excluded.
First Spouse - Yes. All of them.
Arrows and rays - Need to be more specific.
1964 D Kennedy - Yes.
Bi-Centennial - No. Coulds be PDS or 40%.

And yes on the 1793 Chain.

MWallace

@PerryHall said:

@MWallace said:
11. 1909 “V.D.B.” Lincoln Cent

Both the 1909 and 1909-S use this reverse design.
The 1909-S Indian cent would work though. Great list by the way.

The o9-S Indian wouldn't work because of the 08-S.

MWallace

@numismapiddler said:
11. 1909 “V.D.B.” Lincoln Cent No. Could be PDS.

Correction: Could be P or S. No D.

Actually there are several on the list that you could tell the date by the reverse but not the Mint.

numismapiddler

The 1909-S Indian cent would work though. Great list by the way.

1909-S Indian - No. Could be 1908-S.

Thanks. Hope you are enjoying.

numismapiddler

Actually there are several on the list that you could tell the date by the reverse but not the Mint.

Yes, there are not that many where the MM is not on the reverse. Still missing several though, even of those. Overall, so far, missing a whole genre.

MFeld

1907 High Relief
1794 starred reverse cent
1908-1915 Matte Proof $2 1/2, $5, $10 and $20 gold coins (if they haven’t been messed with, to the extent that their original color has been altered)

BryceM

1921 Peace dollar. Tons of Morgan and Peace VAMs. Many other varieties in many series.

numismapiddler

@MFeld said:
1907 High Relief - $20 gold Saint - Yes.
1794 starred reverse cent - Yes.
1908-1915 Matte Proof $2 1/2, $5, $10 and $20 gold coins (if they haven’t been messed with, to the extent that their original color has been altered) - No. Cannot ID the year.

The High Relief is a little borderline with my criteria, but I put it on my own list because it is pretty easy to eyeball and you really don't have to look at a comparison to be know what it is.

numismapiddler

@BryceM said:
1921 Peace dollar. Tons of Morgan and Peace VAMs. Many other varieties in many series.

VAMs and such are excluded. 1921 Peace Dollar - No. Could be a 1922 HR.

Moxie15

1792 half dime?

numismapiddler

@Moxie15 said:
1792 half dime?

Correct but No. I'm calling the 1792 issues patterns as I don't think mose would consider them regular mint issues. Same for the Gobrecht dollars.

CoinJunkie

.

DNADave

21 P D and S Morgans.

Sweetpie

1877 Indian Cent.
(Lower right leg of the "N" in ONE are weakly struck).

Interesting list btw.

PerryHall

Great thread. It really made me think.

Smudge

1859c 1860c Half Eagles.

jmlanzaf

@numismapiddler said:

@MFeld said:
1907 High Relief - $20 gold Saint - Yes.
1794 starred reverse cent - Yes.
1908-1915 Matte Proof $2 1/2, $5, $10 and $20 gold coins (if they haven’t been messed with, to the extent that their original color has been altered) - No. Cannot ID the year.

The High Relief is a little borderline with my criteria, but I put it on my own list because it is pretty easy to eyeball and you really don't have to look at a comparison to be know what it is.

1921 P, D, S Morgan

numismapiddler

@DNADave said:
21 P D and S Morgans.

1921 P Morgan - No. Cannot determine date.
1921 S Morgan - No. Cannot determine date.
1921 D Morgan - Yes. Only D Morgan.

numismapiddler

@Sweetpie said:
1877 Indian Cent.
(Lower right leg of the "N" in ONE are weakly struck).

Interesting list btw.

Thanks. I'm going to say No on this one for now and call it a die marker. I think it could be moved to the Honorable Mention category since as I recall it is pretty easy to eyeball. I'm just not sure if there are other weak "N" coins in the series. Maybe someone expert on Indian Cents can comment?

numismapiddler

@Smudge said:
1859c 1860c Half Eagles.

No. Cannot determine date. Keep thinking along those lines though.

numismapiddler

@numismapiddler said:

@Smudge said:
1859c 1860c Half Eagles.

No. Cannot determine date. Keep thinking along those lines though.

I may need to be corrected on this, but I think they only changed the reverse on the Philadelphia and San Francisco issues in 1859.

Sweetpie

2017, 2018 & 2019 Palladium Eagles

ps- Anyway to do a compiled list i
n the original post?

PerryHall

1909-O Indian half eagle.

numismapiddler

@Sweetpie said:
2017, 2018 & 2019 Palladium Eagles

ps- Anyway to do a compiled list i
n the original post?

2019 - W Reverse Proof - Yes. At least until they issue another one.
The others, No. Cannot determine date.

I will try to do a summary later today.

numismapiddler

@PerryHall said:
1909-O Indian half eagle.

Yes. Only O mint $10 Indian.

MFeld

@numismapiddler said:

@PerryHall said:
1909-O Indian half eagle.

Yes. Only O mint $10 Indian.

$5 Indian 😉

numismapiddler

@numismapiddler said:

@Sweetpie said:
2017, 2018 & 2019 Palladium Eagles

ps- Anyway to do a compiled list i
n the original post?

2019 - W Reverse Proof - Yes. At least until they issue another one.
The others, No. Cannot determine date.

I will try to do a summary later today.

I am counting the reverse proof since it is easy to discern. I am not counting proof vs. MS finishes because you could not easily tell a low grade proof from a DCam PL MS coin.

ifthevamzarockin

@numismapiddler said:

1921 P Morgan - No. Cannot determine date.
1921 S Morgan - No. Cannot determine date.
1921 D Morgan - Yes. Only D Morgan.

1921 Morgan dollars have a slightly different reverse design.

oih82w8

2000-P Wounded Eagle Sacagawea Dollar
2005-D Speared Bison Jefferson Nickel

numismapiddler

@MFeld said:

@numismapiddler said:

@PerryHall said:
1909-O Indian half eagle.

Yes. Only O mint $10 Indian.

$5 Indian 😉

Thanks for the correction.
1909-O $5 Indian. Yes. Only O mint $5 Indian.

There is a $10 but no one has got it yet.

MFeld

@numismapiddler said:

@MFeld said:

@numismapiddler said:

@PerryHall said:
1909-O Indian half eagle.

Yes. Only O mint $10 Indian.

$5 Indian 😉

Thanks for the correction.
1909-O $5 Indian. Yes. Only O mint $5 Indian.

There is a $10 but no one has got it yet.

1907 Wire Edge

PerryHall

@numismapiddler said:

@PerryHall said:
1909-O Indian half eagle.

Yes. Only O mint $10 Indian.

You're thinking of the 1908-D No Motto $10 Eagle.

numismapiddler

@oih82w8 said:
2000-P Wounded Eagle Sacagawea Dollar
2005-D Speared Bison Jefferson Nickel

No. Counting these as errors/die variety.