The Coin Look - Counterfeit Detection - 1922 "Plain/No-D" Lincoln Cent

Although counterfeiting is not the big thing plaguing the identification of this coin, telling apart the different examples is.

All 1922 Lincoln Cents were produced at the Denver Mint. The reason there is emphasis on the "No-D" or "Plain" is because although there is no mint mark, it was still produced at the Denver Mint.

There are 4 "varieties" of the 1922-D Lincoln Cent.

The first being a 1922-D Cent with a full mint mark.

The second is a 1922-D Cent with a weak-D. This coin will show a faint trace of the D.

The third is a 1922-D Cent with no-D, and a weak reverse. This coin will show no evidence of a mintmark. The reverse details will be extremely weak, due to overused dies.

The fourth is the big one, the 1922-D Cent with no-D, but with a strong reverse. This is the coin that the big premium is paid for. Although there is much confusion about this coin, it is very easy to identify.

Pictured below is an AU example of the 1922-"No-D" Strong Reverse.
Notice the date. The second "2" is much stronger than than previous numbers. Also, "TRUST" is sharper than "IN GOD WE". If you look at the back of this coin, it looks the way a lincoln cent should.

The coin pictured below is a 1922-"No-D" with a weak reverse.
Notice how unlike the previous picture, the second "2" appears weaker than the previous digits. Also, keep in mind how this is a mint-state coin, the the reverse appears to be in poor condition. As mentioned earlier, this was due to overused dies. There is still a premium paid for this coin, but not as much as the previous "Strong-Reverse".

Also note that it is still seen where the mintmark of a 1922-D is shaved off in order to deceive. When this happens, the date will either be strong all the way across, or it will have a strong reverse.