How is a mintmark added?

HoosierDaddy

I wanna tell y'all a little story...

Last December, my family trooped halfway across the US to go home for the holidays. Whilst we were there, I found a spiffy little 1932-S washington in a flea market case with a pricetag or $75. It was no better than an F-12, and the obverse was more of a G-8. The thing I immediately noticed though was the incredible definition the "S" mintmark had.

I reached into my pocket and grabbed my trusty loupe and as I examined the coin, it appeared that the mintmark was actually of higher relief than any other part of the coin...Added to that was the presence of a dark spot just above the top of the mintmark.

I go through all this to ask how a mintmark could be added to a coin? What tell-tale signs show up when this process occurs? Did I pass up a good deal 'cause I was improperly frightened away?

I appreciate all the advice and theory!
-Hoosier

Coppernicus

One way mintmarks are added is with the old standby - Super Glue! A light dip in acetone will prove fatal for such an attempted fake. The other major way to add a mint mark is through "tooling" where surrounding material is manipulated (gouged) up into the proper shape. This one can usually be spotted by examining the surrounding field for evidence of tampering.

I'm sure there are other ways to do it, but these are the two I am most familiar with.

anoldgoat

I just read Photograde and am halfway through Coin Collecting for Dummies (very appropriate in my case). From what i read and you describe i think you where wise to pass it up.

clw54

If it's added, then where do they get the mintmark? Is it removed from another coin?

ScarsdaleCoin

Regarding Altered mintmarks & dates - Here is a little additional information ....added mintmarks may be irregular, may be of the wrong style, may be in the wrong position, may have a visible seam at the base, and may not match the surrounding area in appearance.

Microscopic examination is advisable. Remember a depression around the mintmark does not necessarily indicate an alteration, as the depression could be caused from raised metal on the die from punching the mintmark into the die.

However, too large a depression could mean that the mintmark was carved out of the surrounding metal after the coin was struck.

Be sure to look for tool marks in cases where a mintmark (or part of a date) might be removed to simulate a more valuable coin.

Some well-known examples include the 1928 Peace Dollar and the 1914-D Lincoln Cent (made from a 1944-D). For most of the altered dates, the appearance and style of the date (and sometimes of other design elements) will be wrong. (In the case of the altered 1944-D, the spacing between the "9" and the "1" will be too large, and the small "VBD" initials may not be removed from Lincoln's neck.) Digits and mintmarks added after striking will not show metal flow lines around the perimeter, in cases where such flow lines are visible on the other digits and lettering Hope this info is of some help to you! Best, Jon @ Scarsdale Coin