1942-D/D FS-501 RPM-005 Mercury Dime - New Obverse Die Marker Discovery

keyman64

I believe this variety to be an R-6 (13-30 pieces) at this time. PCGS has graded and attributed 8 examples so it is certainly fairly difficult to locate. Something that makes this variety a little more difficult to identify is that there are six RPMs for the date, two of which are very similar (RPM-005(CPG) and RPM-002). It is always nice when we can have some identifying marks to help us out. I recently acquired my 3rd example of this variety and it has afforded me a fine opportunity to examine them all at once. I have a raw AU, PCGS MS64FB and PCGS MS66FB. I made the discovery of an OBVERSE DIE GOUGE between the "9" and "4" of the date last night. Granted, I only had three to examine and all three had this obverse die gouge. I wanted to check into this further. I checked with DIMEMAN of course. He has two examples of this variety and he checked them to confirm. His examples did have the die gouge. Then it was on to look at the Coinfacts AU58 Example. This was fcloud's example. It too has the same obverse die gouge. So we are 6 out of 6! I am not 100% sure if there was only one obverse die used with this mintmark variety but 6 out of 6 seems pretty good to me. So now when you are looking for this coin you have the mm and obverse die gouge to look for. And if anyone happens to find an example finer than MS66FB, please contact me directly because I need an upgrade!!!

The next step was to quickly put together some images to demonstrate this. We all know that threads are useless without pretty pictures. Please do not beat me up too bad for the following photos. I captured these images with my iPhone 5 tonight, it just seemed quicker. A quick note about the 66FB example, it is weakly struck in comparison to the 64FB example and you have to hold the coin at a much sharper angle to see the variety well.



PCGS Coinfacts 1942-D/D FS-501 AU58 Example

DIMEMAN

Nice find Greg!

CoinZip

Awesome photos.....

keyman64

Thanks for your help DIMEMAN!

Thanks CoinZip! I was surprised that the images were usable even though I had been playing around with using the iPhone 5 camera for this a little. I have a loupe that has a 10x and 20x in it. I am able to unscrew the 20x magnifier and just lodge it in front of the iPhone5 camera lens by wedging it in the gap that the OtterBox Case creates. It stays in there pretty well. Then I zoom in with the camera and move my hands so that I am holding the phone the right distance away from the coin so that the image is in focus. Not too bad.

ricko

Great pictures... and thanks for the information... Cheers, RickO

Manorcourtman

Keyman-

I just checked a few 42-D's and have found that a die gouge in this area seems common. Here for example is one on eBay with a better picture eBay. Did you check out other normal 42-D's?

Here's another: eBay #2

and another: #3

DIMEMAN

Since they probably don't change out obverse and reverse dies at the same time there are probably marriages of the die with marker paired with normal reverse mintmarks. And probably vise-versa.

seanq

A die gouge between the second and third digit of the date? That's preposterous, obviously that is a repunched 4 over 3.


Sean Reynolds

Manorcourtman

<< <i>Since they probably don't change out obverse and reverse dies at the same time there are probably marriages of the die with marker paired with normal reverse mintmarks. And probably vise-versa. >>



Now you guys need to find a reverse marker!!

DIMEMAN

>>>A die gouge between the second and third digit of the date? That's preposterous, obviously that is a repunched 4 over 3.<<<

Trouble maker!

Tdec1000

That 66fsb looks familiar.

keyman64

<< <i>

<< <i>Since they probably don't change out obverse and reverse dies at the same time there are probably marriages of the die with marker paired with normal reverse mintmarks. And probably vise-versa. >>



Now you guys need to find a reverse marker!! >>

Trouble Maker...that would be the RPM Silly!

keyman64

<< <i>That 66fsb looks familiar. >>

Yup, I did not think it was the variety when you posted it, if I recall correctly, due to the weak strike if the MM. When you get light in the middle of the D's you can clearly tell they are the exact same.

Now go find me a 67FB! The 66FB just isn't cutting it for me.

keyman64

<< <i>Keyman-

I just checked a few 42-D's and have found that a die gouge in this area seems common. Here for example is one on eBay with a better picture eBay. Did you check out other normal 42-D's?

Here's another: eBay #2

and another: #3 >>

Very true and I was aware of this but in addition to what DIMEMAN said, I will add the following.

Obviously an obverse die marker is not the perfect solution but in this case where there are 6 different RPMs with two being similar....if you find one of these two RPMs then you flip the coin over to look at the obverse and see the die gouge then you probably have your confirmation right there that you have the RPM-005 instead of the RPM-002. You clearly cannot go by the obverse alone! You have to make sure it has a 'D' mint mark first and then an RPM!

fcloud

That is cool, Greg, and thanks for sharing it. Maybe that is from the 1929 underdate!

keyman64

<< <i>That is cool, Greg, and thanks for sharing it. Maybe that is from the 1929 underdate! >>

Thanks Tony! And the well educated really know that it is from the under date of 1928 since that is the closest match!