strange date on an 1872 Indian cent pcgs vf20

jzbrown

Is this normal for a 72 date? I was taking pics for ebay and could not get the date to show. Went back to the coin and had real difficulty getting anything to show. The 1, 8, 7, and the top of the 2 are all very faint. The one does not have and bottom serif. I comes to a point very near the rim. The bottom of the eight is very thin in the 6-8 o'clock area and the top of the seven seems cut in half. I don't see a lot of damage and was wondering if this was normal or if I found the "really ugly date" variety.

lasvegasteddy

wish i could help...someone will chime in with knowing if this is common or uncommon
looks to me like "grease filled die" type of thing
lol...ugly date...not a variety i'd be after anytime soon

ricko

Looks like PMD due to heavy commerce.... Cheers, RickO

CaptHenway

I have seen 1872's like that. I believe that it was the result of a grease-filled die.

commoncents05

<< <i>I have seen 1872's like that. I believe that it was the result of a grease-filled die. >>





-Paul

ThePennyLady

It is not uncommon to see weak areas on the 1872 Indian cent. Here's an excerpt from Rick Snow's Attribution Guide:



<< <i>As a low mintage date, this issue is the target of collectors as a key date. Examples are typically weakly struck or have missing details due to “grease” strike-throughs. These strikethroughs show up as weak areas in some part of the design. It is caused when some liquid (water or machine oil usually) is laying on the die or planchet at the time of striking. Having nowhere to escape it leaves an impression in the coin. Usually these coins are called weak strike, when actually they may be full strike with strike-through depressions. >>

jzbrown

Thanks much all. I always learn so much here. Wish I had a library of all the knowledge on this board.