Nice 1954S cent RPM sent in by Sadysta1

coppercoins

Just to show off and educate a bit about a nice RPM I received in the mail the other day from Sadysta1. He sent it in so I could photograph it and use the photos for the site. He has another one in at PCGS now for grading, we're awaiting the grade.

This coin is one of the better repunched mint marks for the era because of its wide spread. It has nearly a half letter spread to the northwest. The errant punching is partial, and is either the result of a broken punch, a badly tilted punch, or a light but normal punching that had its top polished off. The coin grades MS65RD and is MDS. The die is listed as the following:

coppercoins : 1954S-1MM-003
CONECA : 1954S RPM#003
NCADD : WRPM-001

So, with all that having been said, here's the picture of the RPM and all the markers for the die. PLENTY of markers on this one, makes the job of cataloging it much easier. Thanks for sending this one in, Sadysta1!

kranky

That is a pretty big spread and the photos show it off wonderfully. How it is determined the coin is MDS?

coppercoins

Experience, basically...but to be more precise, the die develops certain characteristics of wear as it is used. When they first start minting coins, the devices are all needle sharp and there is no flow present in the fields. This is VEDS (very early die state). With a little more wear, the slightest bit of flow starts to show, and the devices near the rim show faint signs of fatigue. This is EDS (early die state). After repeated use the devices start to wear at the edges and become less crisp. Minor die flow lines show in the fields. This would be MDS (mid die state). Another number of coins later (different denominations require different amounts of strikes to change from one die state to the other) the edges of the devices toward the outside of the design really begin to lose definition. The central areas of the design can still be sharp, but it will generally be soft as well. Flow lines in the fields will be heavy. This is LDS (late die state). The last die state, VLDS (very late die state) barely shows any definition at all near the rim. Often the letters will have completely merged with the rim, and all the design elements will be weak. Flow lines in the fields will be so heavy as to completely obliterate the edges of many of the devices.

They generally break down like this in population from a die that lived its full life:

VEDS - 2.5%
EDS - 5%
MDS - 10%
LDS - 25%
VLDS - The other 60+%

VLDS coins are far, far more common than VEDS, EDS, and MDS put together.

sadysta1

I've been saying this before and I'll say it again. One day, when I'll have more free time and space I have to steal and duplicate your picture taking setup. My scanner is pathetic comparing to the quality of my pictures (I cannot do micro pics at all )

The other coin is at PCGS right now being graded (no variety) and it's in a better condition than this one . Threre were only two of these in two rolls I searched. Once I get it back I'll send it to you (for more pics, and to test your grading skills)

When I find or get something intersting I'll let you know!!!