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What is this on my Mercury dime?
Tunis
Posts: 430 ✭✭✭✭
Have decided to start a small collection of Mercury dimes. Can someone tell me what this mark is on the back of my dime? Above the E Pluribus Unum. 
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From that image I can't really tell, but it might be from a clashed die.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Clashed die if you mean that line
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Maybe a dried residue -- possibly from the minting process.
Don't try to clean it! You might do more harm than good.
FWIW, I believe it's pretty common on uncirculated silver Ikes:
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Agree with the above members, looks like clashed dies
Thanks for all of the quick replies. Does this damage take away from the grade? Or is there added value? Or of course, none of the above.
Successful buys on BST board from NotSure, Nankraut, Yorkshireman, Astrorat, Ikeigwin(2x), Bob13, Outhaul, coinbuf, dpvilla, jayPem, Sean1990, TwoKopeiki, bidask, Downtown1974, drddm, nederveit2
If it is from a clashed die then it is not typically considered damage on the coin and rarely would affect the grade. In fact, some prominent or interesting clashed die examples sell for a premium, but this in no way is universal.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Again following what TomB says above.....
I agree with him. Not damage. Don't see it affecting the grade.
Some die clashes are really cool and increase the value, but some/many are just "hmm....kinda cool" and really don't increase the value for 99.9999% of the potential buyers. I would see the above as net neutral to me. I wouldn't pay more and I wouldn't deduct anything.
Another die clash, that some pay more for but I don't, are the "Bugs Bunny" Franklin half dollars. They get designated and so some folks will pay more.
Sometimes, the die clashes are even more prominent than yours...see the whole outline instead of just some.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
It is a die clash. It wasn't totally removed, so part of the opposite side shows up. You can also see the back of Liberty's head in the field on the right below the leaves.
Here's an overlay.
Pete
Some of the clashed dies on Mercs can be pretty dramatic, with very strong clashing of the leaves showing in front of Liberty's face.
Thanks to all, especially to Pete. I like that overlay to show how the dies would line up.
Successful buys on BST board from NotSure, Nankraut, Yorkshireman, Astrorat, Ikeigwin(2x), Bob13, Outhaul, coinbuf, dpvilla, jayPem, Sean1990, TwoKopeiki, bidask, Downtown1974, drddm, nederveit2
I agree w/ the others. @Tunis Would that coin happen to be a 1944? I see a lot of clashes in that exact spot on 44-P's.
It actually is a 1943-P. MS-64FB
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Here's one you can see leaves in front of her face and some axe under her chin, as well as the similar marks of yours on the reverse.
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Good catch... I agree with the die clash diagnosis... no added value, but interesting. Cheers, RickO
MS 67 FB
Wow!!! That is an amazing example. Thanks for sharing.
Successful buys on BST board from NotSure, Nankraut, Yorkshireman, Astrorat, Ikeigwin(2x), Bob13, Outhaul, coinbuf, dpvilla, jayPem, Sean1990, TwoKopeiki, bidask, Downtown1974, drddm, nederveit2
That's an amazing example, grip. A coin with clashing that strong would certainly bring some kind of premium and maybe a substantial one at that.
Very cool.!.!
@grip - that is quite a dramatic one!