Based on die wear this VAM-11 is a later die state than the two RonH FCP on the page, both of which are well centered. The Acc version does show some die migration but not nearly as much as this one. I am trying to figure out if the obverse die was loose and retightened off center or if it was removed from service and touched up then replaced off center. I need help from VAMers that have an EDS VAM-11. Please take a close up image of the date to determine if the 8 is tripled at the bottom inside of the lower loop like the picture following. If not please also look for any tripling or doubling in the other date digits and some stars as noted below. If these features are not in the EDS than this coin should qualify as VAM-11-A. Complicating this issue is that the reverse is definitely a VAM-11, so were both removed for reworking, or was obverse reset without removing? To be clear the misalignment is not a reason for a VAM designation as this could happen to any die pair. The question for this post is do EDS VAM-11 coins show tripling or doubling in the date and some stars like my coins.
Picked up this nice 1897-P from my favorite shop and need help with it. I think that the obverse die had date & star repunching, polishing and it was then reinstalled in the press incorrectly resulting in a misaligned die. I didn’t notice the misalignment at first as it was in a 2x2 and just marked Unc but looked like a MS63. Well, seems the reverse has a rim pinch cut that looks as if it was nicked by something like a mint tote bin door bouncing as it is not deep. Obviously can’t confirm what hit it but fun to wonder as the nick is strange.
- 1897-P V11 misaligned die obv IMG_2138.JPG (230.54 KiB) Viewed 637 times
- 1897-P V11 Misaligned die Rev IMG_2139.jpg (184.52 KiB) Viewed 637 times
Once out of the 2x2 the misalignment stood out. The obverse rim is wider than normal on the right with a ridge line at the outer edge from over the first U in UNUM down to over right star #3. On the opposite side the denticle gap at left star #6 is close to breaking through. The Reverse is well centered. For this one that is, as I managed to confuse myself by having pics of another similar coin in my microscope folder that I should have moved before working on this one. Guess I picked up the other VAM-11 the month before and did enough to decide is was a VAM-11 but didn’t move the pics. It is also misaligned but not as much as the wide side of the rim barely has the ridge line at 3 o’clock and the denticles don’t seem to be quite at the edge of the obverse. I advise you to move your pictures to a labeled folder before moving on to the next coin.
The date shows doubling and tripling.
- 1897-P 1 misaligned die A043 - 20220622_201240.jpg (185.54 KiB) Viewed 637 times
1 doubled both sides of vertical shaft
- 1897-P 8 misaligned die A044 - 20220622_201303.jpg (185.28 KiB) Viewed 637 times
8 doubled outside left and right of upper and lower loops, tripled bottom inside of lower loop, die chips both sides where loops meet
- 1897-P 9 misaligned die A045 - 20220622_201336.jpg (177.62 KiB) Viewed 637 times
9 doubled outside left upper loop and outside right side. Bulge inside lower left upper loop. Rough break closed 9
