First no-mintmark 1922 reported in 1928

When were the 1922 no-mintmark cents first reported?

The earliest report I’ve found is in the March 1928 issue of the Numismatist, where a reader reports one and asks for an explanation.

You’ve said several times in response to questions that visual inspection of coins at the various U.S. mints went out in the 1960s. Does that statement still stand?

As far as I can determine it does, at least as far as the coins are concerned. The minting process now depends in great part on “riddlers,” which are vibrating screens that catch the under- and over-size planchets and coins. However, at least in the early stages of the switch to the copper-plated zinc planchets in 1982, the Mint revived the belt inspection for the unstruck planchets. Ten-thousand out of every 600,000 planchets coming from the private supply company were put on the belt and visually inspected.

I found an 1865 3-cent nickel that has a doubled date. Since I can’t find it in any of the standard reference works, it must be rare. What can you tell me about it?

Repunched dates such as your coin are much more common than overdates, so they do not command the same premiums and are listed only in the specialty catalogs such as the CONECA Register of Minting Varieties. There are too many of them and too limited an interest to include them in general catalogs. In the case of most repunched dates of that period, we generally estimate about 10 to 15 percent over the normal numismatic value for the grade. In the case of this particular coin, I have photographed three examples from the same die, one more than a decade ago.

I have a 1964-D dime that has been examined by several dealers who tell me it is a proof. Can this be true?

It is unlikely that your ’64-D dime is a proof, as the information that proof coins were struck only at Philadelphia that year is correct. What you may have is a first strike from new dies, which often will have an appearance similar to a proof. Send the coin to an authentication service if you want a second opinion.

I have a silver 1776 Continental dollar that is a little worn, but it does not have the word “copy” anywhere on it. I would like to find out if it is authentic or a copy.

The odds are – despite the lack of “copy” – that you have a facsimile rather than a genuine coin. The 1975 Hobby Protection Act that specified “copy” was not retroactive. If you will submit the coin to NGC, as recommended by the American Numismatic Association, you will find out. If there is a raised ridge of metal on the edge, then for certain you have a cast copy.

Address questions to Coin Clinic, Numismatic News, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990. Because of space limitations, we are unable to publish all questions. Include a loose 42-cent stamp for reply. Write first for specific mailing instructions before submitting numismatic material. We cannot accept unsolicited items. E-mail inquiries should be sent to Answerman2@aol.com.