So I've recently gotten into error coins and I found this one. Wondering if anyone could tell me what it is
Hi Kelly, the pics are a bit blurry but I have a hunch that what you are seeing is plating issues surrounding the mintmark. After 1982, the mint switched from a composition of 95% copper and 5% zinc to a cent with a 97.5% zinc core with a 2.5% copper plating. The plating can crack, split, or otherwise become damaged and can appear to be something it is not. Unfortunately, plating issues are quite common and generally do not command a premium. Keep up the hunt!
A lot of it has to do with just reading up and studying die varieties and errors. Also, once you have searched for a while and have found examples of repunched mintmarks, you will know what to look for as you can see the difference in-hand. I have a few really good sites bookmarked that are great for introduction into die varieties. http://lincolncentresource.com (also has a great forum) http://coppercoins.com/advsearch.php (put in the date, mintmark, and variety type and click search to look at the examples) http://error-ref.com http://doubleddie.com http://varietyvista.com http://conecaonline.org http://errorvariety.com Hope this helps.
If you look carefully at the "S" mint mark used during that date ( perhaps on another 1984 S cent you can find, and draw the general shape or just have it handy and try to arrange it to fit what you might see as an "S" under the "D". If all visible parts fit, then there would be a case, but if only one part ( such as maybe the bottom area of the "D" ) might fit but no others then not. The mint marks for a particular year are about the same size, but different shapes , so you can't have one only show a small area and not be able to see some of the rest. For D/S type of coins, the mid diagonal of the "S" should be seen in the opening of the "D", and the "S" presence/absence of serifs and "squarish " or rounded helps also. I agree with the post above , and welcome to the forum. Jim
Laying it on pretty thick, aren't we? As far as the blistering, if you can imagine your skin getting really sunburnt. After a while you develop the under-the-skin blisters (normal healing process for burns), think of plating blisters in much the same fashion. They're just unsightly bubbles forming under the skin of copper. Only these will never get better.
