Letters to the Editor: July 9, 2019

2019 Floating Head Penny

I am writing to you about the 2019 Floating Head Penny from your June 4, 2019 issue of Numismatic News.

Would you answer my question regarding the article? My question is, is the head larger than the 2018 pennies?

I am concerned about the coin collectors and your subscribers. You do not apply answers that people ask you. The answers keep people looking and searching US coins, also buying coins. I have 20 rolls of 2019 pennies and am looking them over closely. I will also have one graded. When I found two “82D” pennies, I immediately mailed them to grading companies.

George Parks
Kaplan, La.

Editor’s Note: We contacted the grading company with regard to your question, as we do not have the actual coin in our possession that was written about in the article. We received word back from them that all of the dies are the same design as the master die. However, it may look like the head is larger because the die was polished, removing the neck area and isolating the head. So the short answer is no, the head is not larger.Thanks for your question!

The Mint and Surveys

Why doesn’t the Mint survey its customers? All of us are burned out answering innumerable surveys from those we do business with [and those we don’t], I suggest the Mint reward those folks who take the time to complete any survey which could be done online—perhaps a certificate good for free shipping [which doesn’t expire in 30 days or a 2019-W Lincoln which isn’t defective!].

In the same survey the Mint could gather additional information about what numismatists (and just plain coin collectors) would like to have the Mint produce.It is not terribly complex.

James Sibley
Spring, Texas

Clash Marks on Nickel

I sent some not too great pictures of my 2009-s proof Jefferson nickel. As you can see, it has been certified by the ANACS as strongly clashed dies. I bought four of these proof sets from the mint to give as Christmas presents and kept one for my collection. I never gave it another thought until a few years ago when I opened it and noticed that the nickel was clashed on both sides. That’s when I sent it to the ANA to make sure.

There are several clear clash marks that can easily be seen and the more I look at it the more i seem to find. The most prominent one is that both of Jefferson’s eyes appear in the name Monticello on the reverse. One eye is above the first ‘O’ in Monticello and the other one is between the ‘I’ and ‘C.’

My question is, do you know if anyone else has reported the same thing? I have bought several others since then just to see and none have this clash. It is a cameo proof as you can see, so it must have been a first strike. The other three I originally bought don’t have it either. I’m just curious to know if it is unique. I hope there are others. Please ask your readers to check their sets just to be sure.

John Dunkle
Essington, Pa.

Modern Slabbed “Mint Fluff”

In 100 years, chances are the Morgan F Dollar will still be popular (for the life of me I have never understood why these are popular to begin with). The Seated Liberty in “any” denomination is a much nicer coin and much more scarce. Indian Head Cents may also still be popular and Lincolns (ones where I do see the appeal.)

The biggest laugh comes from all the so-called collectors that buy the modern junk at insane prices and it’s worth 1/10ththat a year later -- or less. The latest is the UNC 2019-W cent in MS-70 which is $750 to $5000 (on the first day it was selling for $6,500). The combined first day is 83 at NGC already. Look at the PF-70 W or the PF-70 Reverse W; Both are over $100 and there are well over 5,000 of each PF-70 just at NGC.

So compared to the 2012 and 2013 PF-70 which still can be bought for under $100 at 1/100 the population, where is the common sense? 2013 PF70 Lincoln Cent First Releases =0, Early Releases = 55 for NGC and even lower (52) for PCGS First Strike. There is one guy who owns most of these and “tries” to sell them on eBay for $299. I’ve talked to him and nobody seems interested. I bought a 2013 PF-70 NGC ER for $38 just five months ago. I bought 10 from an eBay dealer in July of 2013 for $350 total. Where is the common sense pertaining to modern slabbed “mint fluff???”

Paul Bechtoldt
Peckville, Pa.