Owner Comments:
Lyman Allen #2.15a (KM #163) - Mintage: 7,070,000
The normal 1917-S is not too difficult to find in uncirculated grades, but high grade RD and RB examples are rare. High grade varieties of any color are very difficult to locate.
This coin was acquired raw and I had no expectation that it was a mint state coin when I won it on eBay. It was actually sold as an Allen-2.15c in Fine condition. The variety was wrong and the condition was way off. It is a very poorly struck coin and the high point detail on both sides is very flat. To those unfamiliar with these coin, that flat strike can easily be mistaken for wear. On top of the poor strike, the reverse die was deteriorating rapidly when this coins was struck. There are very visible die cracks between the N and I in UNITED, the first T in STATES extending to the dentcles, connecting the tops of the T and E in STATES, the top the O in OF, and connecting the F in OF to the eagle's wing tip. Not a lot of eye appeal to this coin, but it is a nice mint state example of this rare variety.
Varieties
2.15a - 1917/16 over date in which the 6 is easily discernible under the final 7. This variety is recognized by both PCGS and NGC.
2.15c - 1917/18 over date in which the 8 is easily discernible under the final 7. This variety is recognized by both NGC and PCGS.
Closed 9 - This variety is yet to be cataloged. The bottom of the 9 appears to be closed (like an 8) due to a die break. I have one of these, but have never seen or heard of another, so I am assuming that it is pretty rare.
Date acquired: 5/10/2015 (raw coin)
Date graded: 8/4/2022 (self submitted to NGC)
Rev. 8/13/2022