How to tell #9 from #7

After seeing another ebay listing for a #7 calling it a deep strike (#9), I got so aggravated I created this page.

I admit it is not easy to tell the difference if you have never seen a #9, but I came up with a better way to tell from a photo.

Here is a photo of the most reliable way to tell the difference, but you can't do this with a photo on ebay.

With the pieces side by side you can clearly see the deep dishing in the #9 (lower piece).

From the tip of the crown to the tip of the neck measures;

1.18 inches on the #7

1.13 inches on the #9

Scroll down to see the easiest way to tell from an ebay photo.

Below is a photo that shows a dime on edge next to a #7 lying atop a #9.

The distance from the top of the T to the edge is a little more than the thickness of a dime on the #9.

On the #7 underneath, the distance from the top of the T to the edge is three times the thickness of the dime.

The thickness of the top of the T including the descender at the end is about the same as the thickness of the dime.

If you look at a photo of a 2003 piece and the distance from the top edge of the T is more than twice the thickness of a dime, then it is a #9 Deep Strike.

If not, it is a #7. Now look at the bottom photo.

The photo below is the one that was posted on ebay for item #231892539080.

The caption of the ad was "2003 NORFED $10 DEEP STRIKE COIN 1oz.999 EXTRA FINE SILVER MINT CONDITION RARE"

This is a false claim as can easily be seen by looking at the distance from the top of the T to the edge.

This distance test holds true all the way around the edge of the piece for any of the letters in LIBERTY.

Fortunately the party who bought this piece did not pay much for it, but it is a shame if they really think they got a Deep Strike.

I have rarely seen a Deep Strike #9 on ebay, but I have seen quite a few #7 that claimed to be #9.

Another giveaway in this particular photo is the gap at the top of the O in GOD. You can't always see this gap depending on the angle the photo was taken from.

If you are holding a #7 in your hand and you view that O from different angles, you can always see the gap appear.

You will never see this gap on a #9.