My Deep Dive into the Mysterious Images on a 2020 P Dime

As a longtime coin collector, I recently picked up a 2020 P dime with some odd features near Roosevelt’s nose that made me scratch my head. I just had to figure out what was going on. Here’s what I discovered after some sleuthing—thoughts that might help fellow collectors when they spot something unusual.

Spotting the Peculiar Feature

Right away, I noticed a raised bump near the nose that stood out—some joked it looked like a ‘nose wart’! But after careful examination, I realized this wasn’t damage after minting or some random flaw. Under magnification, it showed up consistently as a die-related error. That got me thinking about how these mint mistakes happen.

Understanding Die Defects: Chips, Breaks, and Cuds

I revisited die errors to make sense of what I was seeing. Here’s a straightforward breakdown:

• Die Chips: Small die fragments break off, letting extra metal flow into the design during striking. They’re easy to miss or misidentify.
• Interior Die Breaks (IDB): This is likely what we’ve got here—a break inside the design area (not the rim). Though often called ‘die chips’ casually, IDBs leave those raised blobs you might spot on features like a nose.
• Cuds: These are larger breaks along the rim, which didn’t match our case. When in doubt, I check Error-ref.com—it’s my trusted source for clear error examples and classifications.

For this dime, everything pointed to an IDB. It’s a good reminder to use precise terms in our hobby instead of creative nicknames!

Practical Advice for Identification and Grading

If you find a coin with odd features, here’s how I approach it:

• Look Closely: Use a loupe or microscope with good lighting to spot raised areas matching die voids.
• Tech Can Help: I sometimes tweak photo contrast (no filters!) to reveal details—it’s surprisingly useful for documentation.
• Grading Reality Check: Minor IDBs like this won’t tank the grade on common coins, but they add character. For unusual errors, consider professional grading. Modern errors like this are more about curiosity than big premiums.
• Collector’s Perspective: With high-mintage dimes, these aren’t rare—but they’re fun finds! Always check your rolls; I’ve seen similar quirks on other dates that could hint at die varieties.

Broader Collecting Insights

This dime reminded me why I love coin collecting—ordinary pocket change can hide extraordinary stories. Stay observant with your coins; that little irregularity might lead to a great discovery. Happy hunting, and I hope your next find sparks as much curiosity as this dime did for me!