1981-S Type 2 MM's.

keets

Do you have any 1981-S Type 2 Proof Sets or individual coins?? If you do, take a quick look at them and answer a simple question:



Is it a different MM or do you think it's an Inverted MM?



Al H.

cmerlo1

Different. The type 2 MM looks very similar to the ball-serif mintmark used in the 1940's - 1960's. It is wide and 'squashed'. The Type 1 is more narrow and upright.

keets

is that based on thought or looking at a mm right now??

cmerlo1

Originally posted by: keets
is that based on thought or looking at a mm right now??

I'm at work and don't have a coin in front of me. I'm very familiar with the variety- I seem to be the only one in Austin who can tell the difference- I'm friends with most of the dealers here and they always have 1981-S sets they want me to look at.

The first thing I look at is the appearance of the relief of the MM. The type 2 is flat. The type 1 tapers to a point and is not flat.

Also, the serifs on the type 2 are very pronounced, especially the bottom one. The upper serif of a type 1 is not, so IMHO, this alone rules out the possibility that type 2 is just an inverted type 1...

keets

it is clear that a new punch was used, but did the "puncher" orient it properly, that is the question!!

keets

I seem to be the only one in Austin who can tell the difference

cmerlo1

Originally posted by: keets
it is clear that a new punch was used, but did the "puncher" orient it properly, that is the question!!

Ah! I did misunderstand.

I grabbed the type 2 image from smalldollars.com and flipped it in image-editing software (thanks for giving me an excuse to take a small break from work ). I do see what you're saying- it does almost look inverted.

cmerlo1

Originally posted by: keets
I seem to be the only one in Austin who can tell the difference

This and 1970-S small-date Lincoln cents. If they weren't my friends, I'd be cherrypicking the hell out of them on those varieties .

keets

This and 1970-S small-date Lincoln cents.



I just checked some today!!

mannie gray

OK, I consider myself pretty well-versed on varieties.

I have a HE@@ of a time telling the type 2's on this year.

Had it explained by a friend of mine who couldn't notice ANY varieties except this one and Accented Hair Kennedies. He could spot an Accented Hair across the aisle.

But he could also spot a 81-S Ty2. Go figure. I finally gave up on trying to tell the difference.

MadMarty

The 81-T2 looks snakey to me. The only one I have trouble with is the $1 coin, the minors are easy as hell to spot. FYI, true Accent Hair people don't spot them, we can smell them!!!


HI KEETS!!!

keets

hello, Marty, a little over a year till I retire and come visit you at MSNS 2017!!!

MadMarty

Originally posted by: keets
hello, Marty, a little over a year till I retire and come visit you at MSNS 2017!!!

Sweet!!! I thought most coin dealers work until they die!!!

Insider2

Rick Montgomery told me to look for two things. The Type one has a rounded relief that builds up to more or less a point. The Type 2 has a "flat" top surface and a blob on the top serif.



It's easy to see the difference w/two coins but becomes harder when you only have one and have not seen one of these coins in a month or two.

keets

to be honest, I don't have any trouble distinguishing the two mm's. everyone seems to be unwilling to consider and/or opine about the inversion so I guess I will let the thread die a slow death.