Germany Large or Small J

[Lin]

I have a 1950J 5 Pfennig from Germany. How do you tell the difference between a small J and a large J.

[tabbs]

How do you tell the difference between a small J and a large J.

Kind of difficult unless you have both ... Here is an example of two different J mintmarks:

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/2797/bldlx9.jpg

 

Such differences occur, especially with "long term" coins like this one. That particular denomination was made between 1950 and 1965, but always with the "1950" year. When a master die (?, de "Patrize") is exchanged, for example, the mintmark of the new one will in many cases look like that of the old one. But sometimes they are modified a little. In a few cases (other denominations though), the result even looks quite different, e.g. a "G" with/without a vertical line, a "J" with/without a top horizontal line. I am not into errors/varieties, so my knowledge about that is somewhat limited.

 

Christian

[Lin]

Kind of difficult unless you have both ... Here is an example of two different J mintmarks:

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/2797/bldlx9.jpg

 

Such differences occur, especially with "long term" coins like this one. That particular denomination was made between 1950 and 1965, but always with the "1950" year. When a master die (?, de "Patrize") is exchanged, for example, the mintmark of the new one will in many cases look like that of the old one. But sometimes they are modified a little. In a few cases (other denominations though), the result even looks quite different, e.g. a "G" with/without a vertical line, a "J" with/without a top horizontal line. I am not into errors/varieties, so my knowledge about that is somewhat limited.

 

Christian

 

Thank you very much. The pictures were perfect. The coin I have is a small J.

Lin