Identifying US Mint dies

SimonW

I’ll tell you what I suspect about this coin die. If anyone knows differently, please let me know.

This is probably for a US cent. It seems like the first two digits represent P for “Penny” and maybe 8 for the date 1998, then a unique serial number…you with me so far?

I could be wrong, but all the dies I’ve seen from this time period have their serial numbers laser etched, but this one is stamped. Also, the shaft seems to be a slightly different shape. So maybe it’s older?

Anyone know about these things? Am I in the ballpark or way outside it? Thanks for any understanding you can impart!

MWallace

P = Philadelphia
8 = 1998

MWallace

P. S. The US Mint does not strike "pennies". They are "Cents".

SimonW

@MWallace said:
P = Philadelphia
8 = 1998

Oh! That makes sense, I kept thinking “why would the mint not use a “c” for cent…they know it’s not technically a penny.”

SimonW

@MWallace said:
P. S. The US Mint does not strike "pennies". They are "Cents".

Exactly

JBK

Edited...answer already provided.

SimonW

Thank you @MWallace

Manifest_Destiny

@MWallace said:
P. S. The US Mint does not strike "pennies". They are "Cents".

He learned it from the US Mint classroom.

MedalCollector

This one would have originally come in a Priority Mail box, with a foam insert, in which the die was stored. It would have also come with a small black bag and a COA with detailed information about the die and a coin struck early from the die.

The serial numbers in 1998 were stamped, rather than etched. I think the laser engraved numbers didn’t start occurring until maybe 2003 or 2004.

Some of these dies have a bit of the original design left. Fred Weinberg purchased a batch of 1993 and 1994 dies, and those were similar, but are more frequently found with some design remaining.