1955-S Inverted RPM?

[ray_parkhurst]

I just went through a BU Roll of 1955-S Cents and found an interesting coin. It has evidence of repunching south of main MM, but the shape of the repunch is like the upper serif, not lower, so it appears to be an S over inverted S. Only the serif shows, so other parts were either removed or the punch might have been tilted. I took pics of the coin, and did an animated overlay using an image of a well-punched and well-struck mintmark held at a slight angle and lit so that the topmost surface (which is what gets punched first) is highlighted. What do you all think? Is this a 55-S/S Inverted?

[willbrooks]

Very interesting Ray. I definitely see what you are getting at. That's gonna be tough to have any significant degree of certainty without a 2nd pick up point. Looks like it was a very deep punching, so possibly the punch bounced? And we also know how many chips these 50s dies developed too. You sure make a compelling case however, and I surely don't think we can discount your idea. You could really be onto to something! Perhaps the punch was upside-down and then the puncher corrected it and gave it an extra hard whack! lol. Unfortunately, I just don't think there is enough there to say anything other than "maybe." Another fascinating coin for us to ponder and discuss.

[onecent1909]

ray... I do not know if it will help... or if you can
What about using your 3D
take a pic of the S from the top and then a pic of the S from the bottom
see if this can help id the way the serif looks like ...
your pic are always amazing and spot on....

Do we know what die this is?
Does anyone else have this RPM?
Is there a earlier or later die state that may show more?
a very interesting coin and thought process I will be looking for this coin from low on trying to prove this.....
Amazing.

[jay4202472000]

Man, wouldn't it be something if this hold true! S over inverted S...I like the sound!

Could it be an earlier die state of 005? Placement looks close & scratches on the MDS could have worn away. Just thinking out loud.

http://www.coppercoins.com/lincoln/diestate.php?date=1955&die_id=1955s1mm005&die_state=mds

[coulsonmd]

Ray: A couple observations from the 1955-S: The top serif of the mintmark is split, the bottom serif is split indicating doubling. There are two small marks southeast of the mintmark that are interesting and need further thought. I love this type of investigation of coins.

[duece2seven]

What are the remnants separated from the primary MM at 5 o'clock? Any chance of a 3rd punch or are those just chips? Also, is there any possibility of a totally different type of punch being used for the underlying S? BTW, the animation is on another level, Ray! Excellent stuff!

[ray_parkhurst]

I think those anomalies to the SE are small die chips, or more likely small die gouges that have elongated with die wear as they are elongated radially.

[mustbebob]

I have seen and studied this die before Ray. Although the theory of an upper serif are intriguing concerning the shape, it would be inconclusive. I think the fact that there are numerous die chips throughout this coins obverse, may lead to it being some sort of coincidental die damage. I would love to see this die in an earlier die state. I am willing to bet that the anomaly doesn't quite look like that. I am also thinking we may have an earlier die state RPM-005 here.

[jfines69]

This is very interesting... Like Will mentioned tho without a secondary pickup point I do not believe it could be proven as an inverted MM... To bad because it does look like it to me... Awesome pic Ray that is the best overlay I've ever seen!!!

[jallengomez]

I'm with Bob. I think you have an early stage example of 1mm-005.

[eaxtellcoin]

This coin is Wexler rpm#6, Coneca does not list this coin. Chris had a few of them he was auctioning off e-bay a few months ago.
Coneca RPM#5 is a S/S East.
Here is my spare from the web page:

[jay4202472000]

I put the link up. I was referring to coppercoins 1955S-1MM-005. Not Wexler or CONECA. I should have stated this. Sorry if I confused you.

[ray_parkhurst]

You did confuse me! I had not looked at CC for 1955-S for a while. I could have saved all this trouble, as this RPM does indeed look like 1MM-005. Thanks!

But I do think the EDS example has evidence of the secondary MM punching being inverted.

Anyway, I made an animated overlay of 1MM-005 and RPM#5 to show that they are not the same. If only I had read the posts a bit earlier...