What happened to the date on this Barber Dime?

ccex

Tonight when I came home from work it was time to clean up my back room, full of computers and coin books. While vacuuming, I picked up a forgotten dateless Buffalo nickel and an AG 3.7 Barber Dime I didn't think was worth trying to sell earlier this year, when I sold off most of the duplicates from my favorite series. However, this one got my attention tonight. I think it's a 1901. There is no mintmark, but the last 1 almost looks like it's backwards!

I haven't found any mention of an odd numeral like this on any Barber coin, and I've checked out the David Lawrence books, Kevin Flynn's "The Authoritative Reference on Barber Dimes" and what the Barber Coin Collectors' Society has online or in their last year of journals. True, there aren't a lot of us paying much attention to Barber Dime varieties (especially since Lindsay Ashburn's Barber Dime variety and errors webpage has been down).

Anyway, check out my quick scans of this coin, and let me know what you think happened to the last digit in the date. Perhaps it's not a 1901, but I think it has the wrong angle for a 1907, 1905, or 1902. I can't imagine how a digit in the date could have been punched in backwards. I don't see any signs of a reengraving on that last digit, and wonder if this might be an inept counterfeit (although everything else looks OK)


(not much help here)

Here's a close-up of the date:

notwilight

Good job thinking of all the possible explanations before jumping to the conclusion that you have a priceless error. However, I don't see an explanation either. --Jerry

Conder101

It is clear from the picture that something has hit the side ofthe 1 flatenning it. The impact is at a slight angle and does notextend all the way to the top of the 1 making it resemble a serif on that side. There has also been a sideways component to the impact which has caused the body of the 1 to shift to the left, which is why you don't ee the top left serif of the 1. (note that the left side of the 1 is now at a distinct angle.)

lordmarcovan

What he said. It's a hit on the final 1. The narrowness of the column of the 1 makes this fairly obvious. I like Conder's theory of it shifting the metal just enough to make the top serif on the numeral less defined than that of the first 1.

"AG 3.7"? I like that. But I would say that squeaks by as a G4- it's got full rims on both sides. It's pretty PQ for an AG piece.

19Lyds

My guess as well. A strategically placed hit on the one gives it an odd look. The hit is well disguised after many many years of circulation.

ccex

Thanks for your opinions. I didn't think the weird last 1 was produced at the mint, but wondered what kind of a hit could push the metal on this digit to the northwest so regularly. I'll now try to do the same with 2001 Roosevelt Dimes from pocket change.

Dog97

What Conder101 said. Or perhaps a die chip. Your picts are very dark on my screen and I can't see damage from a hit.