1958 Very Interesting Coin

[hyf88]

I know that all of the 1958/1957 "overdates" have been debunked but in looking at this coin I can sure see how there was some interest in it being a possibility. This coin has the tiniest little nub of something sticking out on the far right top side of the 8 that sure could look like the corner of a 7 and the die scratches within the top loop of the 8 sure look like they were created by the removal of a 7 in the date as they are diagonal in a way that would sure seem like the employee was polishing away the remnants of a 7. Always nice to dream, I guess as this is probably a case of how one's imagination can make it seem like something is there when it really is not. Just figured I'd share the pictures.

- Bill

[willbrooks]

Well, nobody's more skeptical about these sorts of speculative claims than I am. However, at this time there is no way to say with certainty that this isn't a type of overdate. Ray Parkhurst made one of his excellent gifs showing the overlay and allowed me to add it to the glossary entry for Overdate. Though I think there are other more likely explanations for the anomaly, the theory of an incompletely ground off 7 from a master hub is still a possibility and cannot be dismissed. Click on the 2nd image below and see Ray's animated overlay.

Over Date: A digit punched or engraved on a working die over an existing different digit to either correct a mistake, or to use a die in a subsequent year. Punching and engraving digits on working dies ceased in 1908, so there are no such over dates in the Lincoln series. However, there is still debate over a 1958 Lincoln cent that appears to some to be an 8 over 7. The theory would be that the 7 was (incompletely) ground off the 1957 master hub and an 8 engraved on the new master die, and then the remnants of the 7 disappeared after a certain number of working hubs were made. The anomaly is common enough to surmise it is a master die issue and not an individual working die issue. The first image shows the diagonal bar of the supposed 7 cutting through the upper loop of the 8. There is also sometimes an extension seen coming out the top right of the 8 as well. If you click on the 2nd image, you see it is an animated gif which shows an overlay of a 1957 where the 7 matches up exactly with diagonal line in the 8. Images donated by forum member ray_parkhurst.

[mustbebob]

My opinion only. I am one of those that completely dismisses this as being nothing but wishful thinking. Even when it was proved that dates were engraved and not punched, there were still those who believe it is something. I think Ray's animated gif showed how it could not be a 7, especially that little 'nub'. To me, matching up a portion of a 7 digit to the diagonal mark hardly makes it a convincing argument. To top it all off, we do indeed have a Master Die issue with the 8 of the date. However, this is seen as doubling of the left side of the 8 digit and is clearly seen on the example shown. Discussing it each and every year is beginning to get old (like me). I fail to see how bringing it up changes anything. I guess I could just ignore the discussions all together, but I can't. Once again, my opinion only.

[onecent1909]

MEH....tomato .. Tomato ( said differently )
I love this "anomaly" ..
Die Dent... Overdate... what ever it is...

I have a ANACS 1958 over 7 D

EDIT: I do not think it is a overdate either... but I do like them.

[jcuve]

There was so much rampant and haphazard die abrasion in the mid to late '50s if you look hard enough you start to see things. I have yet to see anything making think this overdate was possible. The coin shown has so much abrasion, that if it had evidence of a 7 below, it would have been lost when it sanded down. The only evidence I would begin to accept would be a well struck coin from a EDS or VEDS coin showing some remnant of the 7 with no funky abrasion present - and more than one diagonal - and then a clear overlay matching with a 7 from the 1957...

[hyf88]

Thanks for the insight, guys! As I said in my original post this is one of those things where imagination takes over and leads the eyes to see things that aren't there. Having experts chime in with so much experience is what makes this site so great!