Dropped Numeral & Letter on Reverse. Is it real or a Fake??

[Guest]

While searching earlier I ran across this 1984-D with a damaged obverse. I flipped the coin over as usual and found a Dropped Numeral "8" (Date) and a Dropped Letter "D" (MM) on the steps of the memorial.

Both of them are incused into the coin (sunken in).

Is this error real or fake (garage job)? All thoughts/comments are welcome.

[Maineman750]

The damage and direction of the MM in relation to the 8 have me thinking garage job. But you already know I'm not much of an error guy.Hope Mike D. chimes in on this one.

[Rollem]

The 8 should be north of the MM. There is no evidence of die abrasion, that normally occurs after the die has been clashed.
The obverse has vice marks.
My guess is pretty garage job. Good ebay coin.

[1sgret]

Here is a good article on Dropped Letters etc and how they happen or if you have a copy of the "The error coin Encyclopedia" go to page 271.

http://www.numismaticnews.net/article/error_finds_include_dropped_letter

[georoxx]

I'd say there's nothing there that points to this as being a garage job. Let's see what the pros think.

-George

[Maineman750]

"The 8 should be north of the MM"

May I ask why you say that ? I wasn't aware dropped letters should be located any particular place.

[1sgret]

"The 8 should be north of the MM"

May I ask why you say that ? I wasn't aware dropped letters should be located any particular place.

You are correct about the placement of dropped letters/numbers as they can appear randomly and at any location on either surface of the coin.

[Rollem]

I was taking into consideration it could have been the result of a clashed die.
As referenced when mentioning the absence of abrasion marks. Many times identity is done by knowing what it is not.
By me anyway. LOL Odd two dropped letters could be so nicely placed with each other by accident. IMO

[Rollem]

Very good article Joe thanks for that info. But to get the 8 and MM seems to me to still point to garage job.
Of course i am the rookie and would like to know the answer.

[DoubleYou]

Difficult one. I'd say it is a garage job. The marks on the reverse evidently all come from the same thing, and it appears four times. It makes sense due to the spacing of the marks that two marks were given to the coin on two separate occasions. This would explain two incuse letters on the reverse. Of course, I may be wrong, but I'm always the dull skeptic that believes in Occam's razor.

[mikediamond]

It's a garage job. Whatever damaged the obverse provided resistance when another cent was pressed into the reverse face. The "8" and the D-mintmark would not be conjoined dropped fillings since there's no recess connecting them. Coinjoined, properly spaced dropped fillings would have to be connected by intervening die fill, which would leave a shallow depression.

[1sgret]

Thank you Mike D. for the clarification. I strongly suspected it was a garage job but was not positive.

Thanks to the other Forum members for there thoughts and responses as it is much appreciated and I enjoyed them.

[Maineman750]

Thank you Joe for the post and education...you're getting me interested in errors now

[BadThad]

Definately PMD.....pretty interesting creation though.

[georoxx]

Now that I look at it, the 8 and the D are in proper inverse relationship to one another.

-George