How rare are mintmark overstrikes/restrikes? SBA

sinin1

I have what looks to me as a 1980-D SBA with a D/D. How does this occur and if I sent it to PCGS would it come back as a D/D or do I have to tell them that is what it is so they can look at it under a scope. At least one die was making these so are there hundreds/thousands/hundreds of thousands like this out there? Can anyone tell me how to get pictures on here without being at a website?

supercoin

During that time, mintmarks were punched into dies by hand, so in theory it could easily occur.

I don't recall having heard of one of these, but then nobody that I'm aware of has ever done a comprehensive study of SBAs either.

PCGS won't attribute it for you. Probably ANACS would be your best bet.

Another possibility often confused with this kind of thing is machine doubling, where the coin shifted during striking, and generally is of little or no premium.

You should be able to attach a photo to your post if it's not too large, use the Attach File(s) button below the editing window.

Good luck -- sounds like a cool find if it's really a D/D!

sinin1

I hope this adds a couple pictures - so how famous of a double die would be required for PCGS to list - I think they have 1938 D/S Buffalo nickels and some 1950 D/S Washington quarters -- does anyone know and if the pictures show up is this a D/D? The rest of the coin looks good MS65/66 ? and it is not a double ide obverse because other lettering is distinct.

richbeat

Welcome aboard! What you're discussing here is called a repunched mint mark, commonly abbreviated as RPM. Doubled dies are another, interesting subject. Machine, mechanical, strike or ejection doubling all mean the same thing as described by supercoin. Although I'm not sure by any means, your scan has the look of machine doubling.

cladking

Welcome. Is this a mint set coin? Can't really tell much from the scan.

sinin1

Thanks for the RPM info, I wasn't sure before what that meant. The coin is in a Littleton Coin Company 6-pack Complete two year Uncirculated set of 1979-1980 Susan B. Anthony Dollars. I seriously doubt if it came from a mint set, surely just packaged from bank rolls. I don't think it is machine doubling as all of the other letters look fine. - THANX - So it seems to me this neat find isn't worth the cost of certifying/attribution - even if it would be one of the first, is that correct?

BowAxe

Hi, and welcome!

I can't be sure from your photos, but it does look like there may a secondary loop of an earlier D in front of a repunched D. The apparent doubling of the serifs at the top and bottom of the D may be machine doubling, though. I have a bunch of Sacagawea dollars that have machine doubling of the P mintmark without any doubling of other letters or devices, so machine doubling can be isolated to the mintmark.

Send an email to James Wiles, the Die Variety Attributor for CONECA (Combined Organizations of Numismatic Error Collectors of America, in case you aren't familiar with it). Ask him what the fee would be for him to attribute the coin for you--the fee is $2.50 per coin for members but I don't know what he charges nonmembers. His email address is jwiles@flash.net.

The only SBA RPM I'm aware of is a proof 1980-S which is listed in the 1983 edition of Wexler and Miller's "The RPM Book". There could be others that have been reported since then; Wiles would know.

If you'll turn on your Private Messaging (PM) function I'll also send you a PM about this.

Good luck,
Dell

supercoin

I like BowAxe's idea, you'll get more information than just having it certified. From the photo, I'm not sure what it is, but I doubt it will bring a significant premium.

On the other hand, if you wait another 70 years or so... look at the obscure things Morgan VAM collectors pay big premiums for.