Phantom "P"?

[Lastufka Collection]

I've been sitting in the dark taking coin pics all night, so it might just be me, but... is that a "P" after "TRUST"? It sure looks like something was there and then removed from the original die. Or is this a known error/variety that I'm just "rediscovering"?

 

Close up of my 1943 S steel Lincoln cent:

[mkman123]

I kinda see what your talking abt

[coinman_23885]

It does look like a "P," but I cannot think of any reason for the letter in the location on the die. It makes me wonder if it is a coincidence, although I'm trying to think about possibilities of how it was formed...

[WoodenJefferson]

Dropped letter P from PLURIBUS

[James_OldeTowne]

That is rather interesting!

[physics-fan3.14]

I'm fairly certain that is a coincidentally placed and shaped contact mark.

[wheat'swheats]

That is a puzzle

[Bruceswar]

I'm fairly certain that is a coincidentally placed and shaped contact mark.

 

+1

[Oldtrader3]

Look almost like another "T" to me. It also looks polished off mostly.

[BillJones]

I'm fairly certain that is a coincidentally placed and shaped contact mark.

 

+2

 

Yea, that's my opinion too. Given the way dies were prepared in 1943, I'm fairly certain that it was not on the die when the coin was struck.

[jesbroken]

I agree with Jason and Bill regarding it being other than a struck letter. My reasoning is this 1872 half dime I had once with what appears to be a complete arrow below, through and to the left of the date in the first photo and I was absolutely sure that it was.

Further photos show it to only be scratches under greater magnification.

Take a peek.

Jim