1888 Cent with DP Middle "8"

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Radius88
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:34 pm

1888 Cent with DP Middle "8"

Post by Radius88 » Mon Aug 10, 2020 1:41 pm

Hello all, Just joined site but have been a Canadian coin collector for years. My question is on the 1888 cent variety with DP middle "8" in date. What is the current information on this variety, as opposed to the 1888/888 variety. How scarce a variety is it, and is there any opinion on the relative value of the "DP middle 8" variety ? And thank you for your help.

Bill in Burl
Posts: 1469
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:41 am
Location: Golden Horseshoe, ONT

Re: 1888 Cent with DP Middle "8"

Post by Bill in Burl » Mon Aug 10, 2020 4:24 pm

The 1888's have been discussed many times on many coin forums. I have looked at thousands of them and it's hard to find an 1888 WITHOUT any repunching. Do a search for 1888's on this site or go to the CCF site and you will find dozens of discussions. The "middle" 8 on the coins was re-engraved on the hub/matrix, so all working dies made with the change will have what looks to be a R/P'd 8.... very common. There is no 1888 that has any significant premium, except in MS conditions. Here is one of the CCF discussions that tells some of the story:

https://www.coincommunity.com/forum/top ... Terms=1888
Bill in Burl

Radius88
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:34 pm

Re: 1888 Cent with DP Middle "8"

Post by Radius88 » Mon Aug 10, 2020 5:14 pm

Thanks for the update and reference for the 1888;s. Is there a specific middle 8 dp that is more "doubled" than most others ? Picture is one example. And stay well.
Attachments
228A 1888.jpg
228A 1888.jpg (357.89 KiB) Viewed 2013 times
228B 1888.jpg
228B 1888.jpg (375.9 KiB) Viewed 2013 times
228C 1888.jpg
228C 1888.jpg (382.93 KiB) Viewed 2013 times
228D 1888.jpg
228D 1888.jpg (387.66 KiB) Viewed 2013 times
228E 1888.jpg
228E 1888.jpg (410.34 KiB) Viewed 2013 times

Bill in Burl
Posts: 1469
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:41 am
Location: Golden Horseshoe, ONT

Re: 1888 Cent with DP Middle "8"

Post by Bill in Burl » Mon Aug 10, 2020 6:14 pm

It is felt that the middle 8 was re-engraved on the matrix or hub that is used to make the working dies. Every working die made from that hub/matrix would have an 8 that was identical to the others ... at least initially. The small amount of offset in your pictured coin probably came off the hub like that. However, as dies are used to punch out thousands of coins they become damaged and may require repunching to clean them up. Just like where you see a 1, the first 8 or the last 8 having been repunched to clean them up. It takes more than 1 punch to clean up a working die, sometimes as many as 3. The final 8 in the date was not on the hub/matrix, so the last digit was hand-punched into each working die. Again 2-4 whacks with the hammer and punch were required to get the numeral recessed far enough into the die. There were millions of 1888's made, so the working dies needed to be cleaned up to keep them in service. I have nearly 300 1888's and I can see at least 3 different types of overpunches on the middle 8 and many more on the last one. I would estimate that there could be at least 20 different varieties for 1888, with 1, 2, 3, or 4 digits involved ... some with very large offsets. Just take a look at the above link that I put in my last post. The final "8's" there are some of mine.
Bill in Burl

Radius88
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:34 pm

Re: 1888 Cent with DP Middle "8"

Post by Radius88 » Mon Aug 10, 2020 6:51 pm

Again thank you for the information. I had understood much of it but you helped to clarify it a lot. I went to the link and saw the photos. I also have over 100 1888's with several MS examples of the 888 variety. (Pic attached). Appreciate the direction.
Attachments
10A 1888.jpg
10A 1888.jpg (408.87 KiB) Viewed 2002 times
10B 1888.jpg
10B 1888.jpg (400.09 KiB) Viewed 2002 times

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