strange 1955 S

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  • jamngeorge
    • May 2025
    #1

    strange 1955 S

    First of all, I appreciate all you guys teaching me how to be a collector. I have a bunch of 1955 s cents that I've had since my grandfather passed away but never looked close at any of them. He had many rolls of 1955's which I assumed he collected looking for a 1955 D.D. I started to go through them today. One was a Bie error--i think that's what they call it ( i looked it up), where the lib in liberty is meshed together and on the obverse there is copper blobs on the left wheat stock but that cent did not baffle me as much as another 1955 s I saw. Because I'm a rookie to this, I put two side by side and compare them through my duel magnifying class. Anyway, I was comparing the obverse of two more 1955 S cents and there was no M in America on one. It did not appear to be altered in anyway. Everything else, is crisp and clearly visible--the cent still has some of the patina on it. I wish I could show you a close up picture of it. Is this a common thing? I think its a pretty cool coin but I have no idea how it got that way. Can anyone educate me on this one? Should I have PCGS grade it/document it? Thanks, curious George
    Tags: None
    • willbrooks
      Die & Design Expert, LCF Glossary Author

      • Jan 2012
      • 9470
      #2
      Most likely that would be a struck-through grease-filled die, which is an error. It isn't unusual for certain devices to be obscured or missing completely from this. Grease or gunk gets stuck in part of the die and it consequently doesn't strike all of the devices clearly. This is just one possibility. A photo would confirm.

      Here is an example I have:
      Last edited by willbrooks; 10-18-2013, 03:02 PM.
      All opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by willbrooks or his affiliates. Taking them may result in serious side effects. Results may vary. Offer not valid in New Jersey.

        Comment

        • jamngeorge
          #3
          that sounds logical for sure. I would say the cent is VF-30 "Choice" which makes the missing M a cool coin to observe. I have a 2000 thats blurred bad but the obverse looks brand new. Thanks Will. I'll try and get a picture as soon as I can. Thanks, jamngeorge

            Comment

            • coppercoins
              Lincoln Cent Variety Expert
              • Dec 2008
              • 2482
              #4
              A few things for you as a matter of education:

              1. The back-side of the coin is the "reverse" - you called it the "obverse" above. Could have been a slip, but just in case...
              2. BIE errors are what they call die chips and breaks in LIBERTY. They are rather common (but yet collectible) in the 1950s.
              3. 1955 dies were notoriously used well beyond prime, and die wear takes the cake in strange oddities that year. Die wear can cause all sorts of anomalies like mushy letters and ghost shadow doubling. This is common for 1955 cents.

              Now..as to the coin in question. The coin in the post above does indeed show a case where a letter in the recess of the die was filled-in with gunk and thus did not strike up on the coin. These are known as grease filled die errors, or for short "greasers". They are rather common, and even in cases where most of the lettering on the entire side of the coin is filled they don't sell for much.

              But what you have is likely a different story altogether.

              In almost all cases of a missing 'M' of AMERICA on the reverse of a wheat cent, the culprit is a combination of a worn out die and a lack of striking pressure. They usually don't have anything at all to do with grease. You see, if you flip the coin over you will notice that the highest point in relief (how much the design stands up) of the head (just above the ear) is directly opposite the M of 'AMERICA' on the reverse. When striking pressure is lowered, these details do not strike up completely because there's too much design to fill in those areas. This - I believe - is what you have. Unfortunately they are extremely common and aren't really 'errors' at all.

              Now...take a look at the 'O' of 'ONE' on that same coin. I will bet you that the top of that letter is mushy and sort of blends in with the background (the 'field') of the design. Flip the coin over and figure out (now that you understand) what caused it.

              Happy hunting.
              Charles D. Daughtrey, NLG, Author, "Looking Through Lincoln Cents"
              [URL="http://www.coppercoins.com/"]http://www.coppercoins.com[/URL]

                Comment

                • willbrooks
                  Die & Design Expert, LCF Glossary Author

                  • Jan 2012
                  • 9470
                  #5
                  Originally posted by coppercoins
                  But what you have is likely a different story altogether.

                  In almost all cases of a missing 'M' of AMERICA on the reverse of a wheat cent, the culprit is a combination of a worn out die and a lack of striking pressure. They usually don't have anything at all to do with grease. You see, if you flip the coin over you will notice that the highest point in relief (how much the design stands up) of the head (just above the ear) is directly opposite the M of 'AMERICA' on the reverse. When striking pressure is lowered, these details do not strike up completely because there's too much design to fill in those areas. This - I believe - is what you have. Unfortunately they are extremely common and aren't really 'errors' at all.

                  Now...take a look at the 'O' of 'ONE' on that same coin. I will bet you that the top of that letter is mushy and sort of blends in with the background (the 'field') of the design. Flip the coin over and figure out (now that you understand) what caused it.

                  Happy hunting.
                  As I noted, there are other possibilities, and a picture would be needed to make a definite determination.
                  As the OP noted, "everthing else was crisp," so I figured this was not the most likely scenario. Certain among the possibilities though.
                  Last edited by willbrooks; 10-18-2013, 04:09 PM.
                  All opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by willbrooks or his affiliates. Taking them may result in serious side effects. Results may vary. Offer not valid in New Jersey.

                    Comment

                    • Arjohn
                      Member
                      • Mar 2013
                      • 828
                      #6
                      We all would love to see pictures... Especially the 55 with "blobs" on it as I have one of those myself and was going to ask.... I'll show mine if you show yours LOL
                      ArJohn

                        Comment

                        • coppercoins
                          Lincoln Cent Variety Expert
                          • Dec 2008
                          • 2482
                          #7
                          Willbrooks...not one thing I said was an attack against you. Please don't take any of it personally - I don't.

                          I went the round-about way of basically assuring the OP that the 'M' on his coin is definitely missing because the coin was weakly struck. I have seen thousands of them, and it would be a very strange thing indeed if that same spot just happened to have been weakened by a grease clog. I meant nothing else by it, and I said nothing else. I am here to educate too.
                          Charles D. Daughtrey, NLG, Author, "Looking Through Lincoln Cents"
                          [URL="http://www.coppercoins.com/"]http://www.coppercoins.com[/URL]

                            Comment

                            • willbrooks
                              Die & Design Expert, LCF Glossary Author

                              • Jan 2012
                              • 9470
                              #8
                              Originally posted by coppercoins
                              Willbrooks...not one thing I said was an attack against you. Please don't take any of it personally - I don't.

                              I went the round-about way of basically assuring the OP that the 'M' on his coin is definitely missing because the coin was weakly struck. I have seen thousands of them, and it would be a very strange thing indeed if that same spot just happened to have been weakened by a grease clog. I meant nothing else by it, and I said nothing else. I am here to educate too.
                              I don't understand the need for this post. I didn't take anything you said as a personal attack. I too have seen thousands of coins with weekly struck devices due to the relief on the opposite side, just like parts of the word STATES on LMCs. The OP said everything else was crisp, so I was going by this as being the fact. Perhaps it isn't. Maybe he is wrong. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe you are wrong. We certainly won't know without at least a picture. Maybe you could have phrased your post as "That's one possibility, here's another," instead of basically dismissing my assessment when you, in fact, don't KNOW for certain. I completely agree with your assessment, and considered it myself before posting what I ultimately did. I went by him saying the M was MISSING and "everything else was crisp" and figured that pointed more to a struck-through filled die. I was just speculating, as I made clear in my post. I hate speculating without at least a photo, so I think I'm going to try to not do that in the future so much. Thanks for all you do, Chuck. I honestly appreciate everything you have done for our hobby. Your "opinion" is better than mine any day of the week. No bad feelings for me, I assure you. Cheers.
                              Last edited by willbrooks; 10-18-2013, 04:54 PM.
                              All opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by willbrooks or his affiliates. Taking them may result in serious side effects. Results may vary. Offer not valid in New Jersey.

                                Comment

                                • coppercoins
                                  Lincoln Cent Variety Expert
                                  • Dec 2008
                                  • 2482
                                  #9
                                  Got it. Enough said.
                                  Charles D. Daughtrey, NLG, Author, "Looking Through Lincoln Cents"
                                  [URL="http://www.coppercoins.com/"]http://www.coppercoins.com[/URL]

                                    Comment

                                    • coop
                                      Member
                                      • Jan 2012
                                      • 2754
                                      #10
                                      Looks like this one?
                                      Richard S. Cooper Some have asked about my images I use, and I'm glad to say I've completed a DVD of these. Ask if you are interested. Newer members like these.

                                        Comment

                                        • jamngeorge
                                          #11
                                          Yes coop that's it. What do you use that takes the close up pictures? Is it a microscope with a lighted camera or something else. And do they sell reasonably priced ones for those with limited funds? Is there a link you can provide to show me what one would use? Thanks to all of you for helping me out. I may not word the lingo right so it helps to let me know how to properly word my question's. Thanks again, jamngeorge

                                            Comment

                                            • jamngeorge
                                              #12
                                              as soon as I get the right camera that can take close up pictures, i'll be able to show allot of cents.Thanks!

                                                Comment

                                                • jcuve
                                                  Moderator, Die & Variety Expert
                                                  • Apr 2008
                                                  • 15458
                                                  #13
                                                  We have a whole sub-forum on coin photography here: http://lincolncentresource.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=33



                                                  Jason Cuvelier

                                                  MadDieClashes.com - ErrorVariety.com
                                                  TrailDies.com - Error-ref.com - Port.Cuvelier.org
                                                  CONECA
                                                  (images © Jason Cuvelier 2008-18)___________________

                                                    Comment

                                                    • coop
                                                      Member
                                                      • Jan 2012
                                                      • 2754
                                                      #14
                                                      Here is what I use:
                                                      http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/coop49/WHAT_I_USE.jpg

                                                      Getting the right shot is what I wanted, so the infinite zoom was a must for me. I use a camera and take images through the lens.
                                                      Richard S. Cooper Some have asked about my images I use, and I'm glad to say I've completed a DVD of these. Ask if you are interested. Newer members like these.

                                                        Comment

                                                        • georoxx
                                                          #15
                                                          Originally posted by jamngeorge
                                                          as soon as I get the right camera that can take close up pictures, i'll be able to show allot of cents.Thanks!
                                                          My girlfriend wishes I could show more cents.

                                                          -George

                                                            Comment

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