Moxie15

it is not an error that has value. The die was most likely not cleaned properly and still had some crease on it. Some of the letters were weakly struck of even missing upon striking and then the circulation wear did the rest. This is rather common they are referred to as struck through grease , or a grease filled die. They carry no premium and in this condition it is just another heavily circulated cent worth 2 or 3 cents.

it does look like a die clash the close up looks to be the nose. The mark in the lettering may be a small die crack or something else as it looks to be to close to the rim to be the back of his head. But I am doing it by eye so could be wrong

. It is post mint damage that coin did not leave the mint looking like that

and all this time I thought they were arrows. Shows what I know

A circulated dime with no outstanding features, worth 10 cents. Nothing more.

“Silence is sometimes the best answer” Dalai Lama XIV:

I would not say hedge at all. There is plenty of evidence it is one of the earliest, but no proof it is the first one. They are being professional and honest.

I have wondered if the nickel press is on the second floor and the collection bin is on the first floor. I always thought it was the composition and weight

There is no die clash in the area you mark. I do not see a strike error either. What I think you are seeing is a slight shadow of an impression of the reverse of the coin 'in front' of this coin in the roll.

@RWB, Are you trying to say something specific here, without coming out and saying it? You have done more original research than most people have read opinions. I would expect you to have a more direct 'link' to facts on this coin than any one of us here. Something I learned in college when researching an event from WWII, the first researchers 'may have' easily becomes the next researches 'most likely' and becomes the next researchers 'definitely' In this context; first researcher.. "This may have been the first dollar struck' second researcher; 'This is likely the first dollar struck' Third researcher; 'This is the first dollar struck' No one means to lie or misinform but without original research it is very easy for this to happen and future scholars get caught in the trap. That is all the facts I have.

please point out the die clash you think you see and describe the part of the reverse element you think it is. Thank you

It does not look proof to me, very sorry. It may help if you remove it from that holder and re take the pictures as clearly as possible. That is an inexpensive aftermarket hold and adds no value or marketability.

I do not think grading would help the value at all. It may help the sale-ability a bit, but most likely it would be a net loss to you. Look on this website to learn about grading costs, remember to add it shipping costs

To me it does not look like a misaligned die Were do you see doubling? Remember that hubs are made with a single pressing now, so any traditional doubling is not possible. These days any "doubling" is near the center of the coin and seems to be caused more by slippage than being misaligned slightly on the subsequent punching or pressing. Is the die clash you see on the reverse just right of the torch? If so I doubt it is a clash as I can not see anything on the obverse design that would make these marks. Perhaps a more knowledgeable member can tell for sure.

love them as brown Lincolns. If you can't and decide you must have red ones, please PM me and i will send you my address and I will love them as they are. NEVER CLEAN A BROWN COPPER COIN! I know of no way to bring back the nice shiny red all you will do is ruin it.

an easy way is put it in a 2X2 use only 3 staples, Be sure to keep Lincoln's head is straight up and one of the staples is below the bottom of the coin. Then you have an un-moving reference point so pictures will show the rotation and you can calculate the rotation

welcome, It is normal. They receive no special handling so they have had a bit of a trip to get to you... A probable route to you- Struck on high speed press and forcibly ejected into a collection bin. Moved around in the bin until they are poured into a large bag of some sort for shipping Loaded into a large truck for transport then driven to a contractor like brinks for distribution Poured into a counting machine and/or rolling machine to be rolled and packaged in the sealed box you received Shipped to a facility to await distribution shipped to your bank driven in your car to your house Plenty of time to get marked up and scratched

Thank you, @Greenstang. This allows us all to learn. I have collected for 50 years and have never held one in my hand, so 'it is fake', although correct,is nowhere near as helpful as your explanation.

can you explain how you are certain it is a fake?

With that much environmental damage even if it is it would have a very limited market and value. With that said, have you checked to be certain that it is not a bubble between the plating?

I totally agree. And this is happening in a mint with cameras and security searches and who knows what else. But it happens.

Lets jump forward a hundred years or so to 2004 in a modern mint with modern security and procedures... It seems that the Wisconsin state quarters show up with extra leaves, one variety 'high leaf' and one 'low leaf'. Were these reverse dies hand engraved or punched? A leaf punch must have been dropped on two separate dies. Not likely. I have read two articles that suggest the theory that a lower level employee intentionally added the leaves after the dies left Engraving and before final hardening. One article even named the tool, a non-engraving tool, that matches the marks that we call extra leaves.

Yes, in the 19th century. There would have been absolutely no legitimate reason to test hardness by randomly punching the die or hub. Reasons: 1. The metal alloy was exact and known, it was known that if you subject it to a certain degree heat for a certain time it would give a specific hardness. 2. Testing would most likely not be done on a piece of steel meant for production. Remember actually punching a number into the face of the working die is destructive, and very unscientific. 3. The mint was a professional machine shop, not a backyard blacksmith shop. There were standards practices and procedures that were to be followed. I am sure that a large percentage of such varieties were purposely made by employees out of spite or humor or just plain boredom. Even today with modern security, supervision, and security in just about any office or shop you will find someone working on a 'government job' or on facebook or coin forums. For many years I worked at a plant that repaired office phones and equipment, We had a control board from an AT&T System 85 that had a humorous and slightly anti company version of the beginning of Star Wars engraved into it at the rime of manufacture.