1922 No D 1C Strong Reverse, BN MS62BN Certification #10965352, PCGS #3285

Die Pair #2. From 1793 through 2007, the Philadelphia Mint coined cents (either large or small) in every year except 1815 and 1922. However, certain pieces coined at the Denver Mint in 1922 lacked a mintmark. This outstanding example is one such coin from "Die Pair 2," with the strong reverse, the only one of three varieties that can truly be called a "No D" cent. These used to be called 1922 "Plain" cents, but the "No D" designation is a more apt description. This variety is the result of die refinishing after a clashing accident, much like the 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo. David Lange described the process in The Complete Guide to Lincoln Cents: "The no-D variety of Die Pair 2 resulted when a pair of normal dies clashed, leaving both dies with shallow and inverted impressions of one another. The obverse die was polished to remove these clash marks, leaving it without a mintmark and with several low-relief elements." The reverse die was discarded, but the abrasively polished obverse die was returned to the coinage press with a new reverse die. The staff at the Denver Mint apparently failed to notice that the polishing, while successfully removing evidence of the die clashing, also removed the D mintmark from the obverse die. Three die pairs have been associated with this phenomenon, and while all command some level of premium, Die Pair #2, the Strong Reverse variant, is the most coveted, while the other two have lagged in the numismatic marketplace. Two major reasons are cited. One is the bold reverse of the second die pair, more aesthetically appealing than the poorly detailed reverses of the other die pairs, while the other is the consistency with which Die Pair #2 produced No D strikes. All three die pairs show weak obverses, but some examples of the Die Pairs 1 and 3 show traces of a weak D mintmark remaining, while none of the Strong Reverse (Die Pair 2) examples show any trace of a D mintmark remaining, and full Mint State representatives, as here, are extremely rare. Certain characteristics are required for any example to be attributed as a Die Pair Two coin. The Die Pair 2 is easily recognized (aside from the complete absence of a D mintmark) by the second 2 in the date, which is sharper than the first 2, diagnostic for this key date variety, as on Die Pairs 1 and 3 the second 2 in the date is weaker than the first 2. On Die Pair 2, the TY of LIBERTY are both sharper than the remaining letters, IN GOD is noticeably weak, WE is less so, and TRUST is bold (this is a key identifier for the variety), while most of the other obverse design details appear quite weak due to extensive die use and repair. The reverse on Die Pair 2 is much sharper throughout, including separation in the wheat ears, than is ever seen on Die Pairs 1 or 3. The Die Pair 2 reverse is crisp with all details sharply defined, while both Die Pairs 1 and 3 show virtually no detail remaining on the wheat ears and have a generally tired, worn-out appearance.

Jaime Hernandez

The 1922 No D Lincoln cent is the only circulation strike coin, in the entire Lincoln cent series which lacks its intended mint mark.

History: In 1922, the Denver Mint was the only Mint which produced cents for that year. Consequently, all 1922 cents should bare the D mint mark. However, since the Denver Mint was under extreme pressure to produce cents for that year, there was a lot of sloppiness in the production process.

The 1922 No D is believed to exist due to a pair of dies clashing with one another without a coin being in between the two dies. As a result, it is believed that a mint employee obtained an old obverse die and filed it down in order to improve its appearance. But instead, the mint employee ended up filing the D mint mark too much, and in return, created the 1922 No D Lincoln cents.

The 1922 No D Lincoln cent has always been recognized as a major variety within the Lincoln cent series. Due to its popularity this coin has always commanded a hefty premium.


Scarcity: The 1922 No D Strong Reverse Lincoln cent is very challenging to aquire due to its high value in any grade. Most examples are believed to have been certified since they command such high premiums. Therefore, the population figures should provide a good idea of this coins true scarcity.

Varieties:There are two additional recognized varieties for this date which are much less popular and command much lower prices. One of them is the 1922 Weak D mint mark variety and the second one being the Weak Reverse variety.

Authentication: An authentic 1922 No D Lincoln cent will display very sharp details on the reverse unlike the additional two varieties of this year. A 1922 No D cent should have the second 2 stronger than the first 2. Also the word TRUST is sharply struck. There are additional diagnostics which differentiate the more expensive and popular 1922 No D Lincoln cents. Therefore, authentication is highly recommended for this variety.