Just Bob

This picture was posted on the BBC website on 10/20/21:
 
Here is a link to the story                                         
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-58982457

Sorry. I should have tested that link after I posted it. It's fixed now.

Wait, what?! Lincoln is speaking Russian?
I see the face of Freddy Krueger above the last digit in the date. 

Wait, what?! Lincoln is speaking Russian?
I see the face of Freddy Krueger above the last digit in the date. 

Wait, what?! Lincoln is speaking Russian?
I see the face of Freddy Krueger above the last digit in the date. 

Wait, what?! Lincoln is speaking Russian?
I see the face of Freddy Krueger above the last digit in the date. 

It is easier to see how this was created, if you don't have to use imagination. Here is an overlay that shows the position of the portrait, compared to the eagle, when the coin is struck:
 
 

Wait, what?! Lincoln is speaking Russian?
I see the face of Freddy Krueger above the last digit in the date. 

Wait, what?! Lincoln is speaking Russian?
I see the face of Freddy Krueger above the last digit in the date. 

You were correct, Jimbo. It is a fake.

Since the coin is only worth about a nickel even without the gunk, using it as a learning tool is not a bad idea. I would give it a short soak in acetone, and see if that loosened or dissolved any of the stuff. If so, a longer soak plus a rinse or two might improve it. If that doesn't help, I would drop it in some mineral oil or olive oil, cover it up, and let it soak for several months. Then, pick a large thorn off a rose bush, and see if you can get some of the crud to come off that way.
You might even want to try some different liquids to soak it in. Water, alcohol, mineral spirits, kerosene - who knows what you might discover. Even if you discolor or darkly tone it, you are still out only five cents, and you can always spend it.

Since the coin is only worth about a nickel even without the gunk, using it as a learning tool is not a bad idea. I would give it a short soak in acetone, and see if that loosened or dissolved any of the stuff. If so, a longer soak plus a rinse or two might improve it. If that doesn't help, I would drop it in some mineral oil or olive oil, cover it up, and let it soak for several months. Then, pick a large thorn off a rose bush, and see if you can get some of the crud to come off that way.
You might even want to try some different liquids to soak it in. Water, alcohol, mineral spirits, kerosene - who knows what you might discover. Even if you discolor or darkly tone it, you are still out only five cents, and you can always spend it.

That rabbit is having a seriously bad day.
The fox isn't doing so well, at the moment, either.
The only thing left now is for the trio to get struck by lightning or hit by a low flying plane. (Actually, the perfect ending would be for the eagle to fly over water, and for all of them to be snatched out of the air and swallowed by a giant, leaping, Great White shark.)

It is easier to see how this was created, if you don't have to use imagination. Here is an overlay that shows the position of the portrait, compared to the eagle, when the coin is struck:
 
 

It is easier to see how this was created, if you don't have to use imagination. Here is an overlay that shows the position of the portrait, compared to the eagle, when the coin is struck:
 
 

That background is a bit unnerving.
The coin just looks damaged.

It is easier to see how this was created, if you don't have to use imagination. Here is an overlay that shows the position of the portrait, compared to the eagle, when the coin is struck:
 
 

That background is a bit unnerving.
The coin just looks damaged.

That rabbit is having a seriously bad day.
The fox isn't doing so well, at the moment, either.
The only thing left now is for the trio to get struck by lightning or hit by a low flying plane. (Actually, the perfect ending would be for the eagle to fly over water, and for all of them to be snatched out of the air and swallowed by a giant, leaping, Great White shark.)

That rabbit is having a seriously bad day.
The fox isn't doing so well, at the moment, either.
The only thing left now is for the trio to get struck by lightning or hit by a low flying plane. (Actually, the perfect ending would be for the eagle to fly over water, and for all of them to be snatched out of the air and swallowed by a giant, leaping, Great White shark.)

It is easier to see how this was created, if you don't have to use imagination. Here is an overlay that shows the position of the portrait, compared to the eagle, when the coin is struck:
 
 

The so-called "spitting eagle" is caused by the obverse die clashing with the reverse die. What you are seeing is the image of Washington's throat. Since it is a die clash, it could appear on any year Washington quarter with that obverse/reverse design.

That's a really cool and informative photo, Bob.  Thanks for finding that and sharing it.  You can definitely see how "spitting eagles" come into being very easily.

It is easier to see how this was created, if you don't have to use imagination. Here is an overlay that shows the position of the portrait, compared to the eagle, when the coin is struck:
 
 

That background is a bit unnerving.
The coin just looks damaged.