1942p With a Channel Around the Cameo

[Guest]

Hi All.

I found this one that features a channel (incuse) the traverses from Abe's nose all the way around to the back of his head.

Any theories or training is welcomed.

Have a great night.

-George

[jcuve]

BJ Neff has done some analysis on this; if you search the forums you'll find a few threads about it. The hypothesis is something like Mint engravers carved these channels around the portraits on working hubs (not just Lincoln cents, but most if not all dies) to heighten the design and make the hubs last longer. Interesting stuff...

[jfines69]

I believe that on variety vista there are several years listed for ODV that have this trench around the head area... It is suppose to be a design enhancement... It comes and goes with whom ever runs the mint I guess!!!

[trails]

With time permitting and the collection of data, I'll be doing an article for ErrorScope on this channeling. It is bigger than I first thought and may have been a common practice from the Twenties to the Fifties on every denomination.

For clarification, I believe that this channeling was accomplished on working hubs and not master hubs. It is virtually impossible to do this on either the master or working dies.

BJ Neff

[georoxx]

Interesting indeed. It may be somewhat common, but the anamoly is definitely not seen on every 1942 that I've checked out.

Thanks guys.

-George

[jcuve]

Interesting indeed. It may be somewhat common, but the anamoly is definitely not seen on every 1942 that I've checked out.

Thanks guys.

-George

The channels appear to have been added to the working hubs later - as to when during the life of the hub specifically I do not know. I would suspect at the half way point or later and I also suspect not all hubs were channeled - so on any given year you would probably have been an odd number of possible scenarios - with and without the channels.

[CCC]

The channels appear to have been added to the working hubs later - as to when during the life of the hub specifically I do not know. I would suspect at the half way point or later and I also suspect not all hubs were channeled - so on any given year you would probably have been an odd number of possible scenarios - with and without the channels.

Do you think it would be a specific mint or a random mint? I have noticed this but thought MD. Now I know. I am very curious about this.

[CCC]

With time permitting and the collection of data, I'll be doing an article for ErrorScope on this channeling. It is bigger than I first thought and may have been a common practice from the Twenties to the Fifties on every denomination.

For clarification, I believe that this channeling was accomplished on working hubs and not master hubs. It is virtually impossible to do this on either the master or working dies.

BJ Neff

You would be correct!

[jcuve]

Wiles thought it was a design change and BJ has suggested it was a working hub alteration. An examination of wheats seems to confirm a selection of both channeled and un-channeled examples suggesting the working hub hypothesis to be more likely. As to which Mints, I do not know; BJ may have some more specific comments though...

[CCC]

Wiles thought it was a design change and BJ has suggested it was a working hub alteration. An examination of wheats seems to confirm a selection of both channeled and un-channeled examples suggesting the working hub hypothesis to be more likely. As to which Mints, I do not know; BJ may have some more specific comments though...

I do beleive in the theory of a Working Hub alteration. NC was around in the 40's. The goverment did have state of the art equipment at that time.The 20's and thirties would have been done by hand.

[jfines69]

It may be related to cracking... The channel could be a for stress relief on the die... It is possible that the mint had recieved a batch of rod that was not of sufficient hardness and the channel was the only way to prevent rehubbing alot of dies... Also the channel would extend the life of the die by allowing more coins to be struck before the cameo was worn to far!!!

[trails]

We have to remember that this channeling took place up until the fifties and all dies / hubs were made at Philadelphia. So, whether a die was made from a channeled hub and then mint marked with P, D or S would be a random selection.

BJ Neff