1931 S Lincoln Cent...mint mark opinion

jesbroken

Does this mint mark on this Lincoln look real or placed? This is an ebay auction and I think it looks like it has been placed on the coin, but then that's why I'm asking here. These are the seller's pics and are as large as I can make them w/o terrible distortion. The auction# is 234262001057, if needed.
Jim

Walkerguy21D

I’m pretty sure this one is real; it’s at PCGS right now. The bottom serifs look slightly different.

lilolme

Here is pcgs VF30. The S appears to be in the same location as best I can tell (left / right sides, top and slant).
The bottom is as best I could quickly do for side by side but the dates (or coin) are at slightly different angles.

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LanceNewmanOCC

the seller appears to have had a set or a part date run so it would make sense a 31-s would be in there.

@lilolme

the date on that pcgs example is more sus than the op coin LOL.

i was just about to put my comp up and crash but now i'm looking in these dates, placements and mm and i smell a Fugazi somewhere in this mess. LOL

i'll have to look up some more info if ya'll haven't untangled it by tomorrow afternoon.

lilolme

@LanceNewmanOCC Sounds good.
Maybe this will help. Below I tried to place some lines on the 3 coins. Tough to get them all in the precise same place due to different photos and shadows. Missed the one on parallel but close. They all look close to me.

AUandAG

Does look queer to me for sure.

bob

jesbroken

Nice one Greg. I'm not sure about the ebay coin, but it appears like the MM is on a mound that shouldn't be there, but that's how I see it and could be wrong. That's why I posted for opinions.
Jim

LanceNewmanOCC

@lilolme said:
@LanceNewmanOCC Sounds good.
Maybe this will help. Below I tried to place some lines on the 3 coins. Tough to get them all in the precise same place due to different photos and shadows. Missed the one on parallel but close. They all look close to me.

that is good work. i see now why i thought the pcgs coin was sus. i did NOT remember their being a date with the 1 kicked out like that or it may be the 9 further to the right but it is a bigger gap than i recall.

thanks for the patience.

i do think the op looks questionable because of the top of the 3 being too curled and the mm looks a lil off but both of these could be explained by the pixelated images. my 2c

hope it works out.

BuffaloIronTail

Here's another one for comparison:

Pete

The coin looks OK to me.

jesbroken

I'll let it go then. I've not noticed another MM on a raised mound before, at least that's what it appears to me.
Jim

ricko

@jesbroken ... I can see why your suspicions were aroused. Not sure if that is die erosion, poor mint marking or die chips.... really would need to examine that in hand, under magnification. Cheers, RickO