Need help with Merc Collectors (1938-D)

hookooekoo · June 16, 2003 12:51PM

Haven't gotten many responses on this question, so I'm trying again. Certainly there are more Merc collectors out there.

I recently purchased this 1938-D Merc Dime, and while I was transfering it to a new 2x2, I noticed the mint mark to be rotated very much clockwise compared to most. Rather than being oriented even with the 'E' in 'DIME', its parallel with the branch above it. I don't have any other 1938-Ds to compare to and I was trying to determine if this was a minor die variety or are most 1938-D rotated this much.

Everyone with a 1938-D Mercury Dime, please look at your mint mark and let us know about how it's rotated, parallel to 'E' or the Branch.

Sumo · June 16, 2003 5:14PM

Not an expert here, but I'll give you a bump. I want to know also.....

wingedliberty · June 16, 2003 8:40PM

This type of mint mark punch allignment is very common for a 38D.

Brian.

hookooekoo · June 17, 2003 12:34AM

It is so common that it is the norm or for 38D or is it a minor variety (sort of like the big 'S' and micro 's' on other dates)?

hookooekoo · June 17, 2003 12:48AM

Apparently there are not vary many owners of 1938-D Mercury Dimes here in the forum because the response to this question has been abizmal.

I've conducted my own research. I did a search of every current eBay auction with 1938-D Mercury Dimes and found the ones that showed a picture of the reverse.

Results
Seven (7) looked to have a "normal" orientation.
Four (4) looked to have a "rotated" orientation.

This sampling seems to indicate that about a third of the 1938-D Mercury Dimes have a rotated "D".

richbeat · June 17, 2003 4:57PM

I can't be of much help, except to say that with the mint marks being hand punched onto the dies back then, they tend to wander around a bit from die to die. That one just got rotated around a bit more than normal when it was punched. Apparently the Denver mint didn't think it was worth the bother to try and repunch it.

Deadhorse · June 17, 2003 5:04PM

There was a similar thread just last week and I thought this was it so I ignored it.

As stated above, mint marks were hand struck on those dimes and rotated marks are as common as alligned ones. I've got many with all types of degrees of rotation.

I'm not aware of any special value because of it.

Now if you get one backward or wandering off into the field,,,,,,,,well, then you may have a true rarity.

hookooekoo · June 18, 2003 4:03AM

There was a similar thread just last week and I thought this was it so I ignored it.

Yea, I started that thread too but couldn't get many response for some reason (and I still haven't gotten a lot here either, it sounded like a simple request).

I knew the coin wasn't going to have premium value, but I was curious just how common it was (were all, most, or just some like this). After all, Red Book talks about major varieties such as Large S and micro-s (even if its just sometimes a footnote) even if there isn't a difference in value.

Mark · June 18, 2003 5:33AM

The problem I have with replying to this post is the fact that most of coins--including my 38-D dime--are in a safety deposit box. I wish I had the ability to take pictures of my coins so that I could help you out by looking at the relevant picture of my coin, but so far that skill eludes me. Anyway, I bet that a lot of collectors are in a similar situation, that is, their coins are safely stored where they cannot get at them immediately. So, all I can say is that I can't respond and I am sorry about this.

Mark

Guardian · June 18, 2003 7:52AM

Here is an image of my 38-D PCGS MS66FB mercury dime.

Thanks,
Guardian

Need help with Merc Collectors (1938-D)

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