Question on 2020 Silver Proof Mint Set Penny 0

[FrankIII]

Good morning, and thanks in advance for reading this and for hopefully making me smarter about coins!

I purchased a Silver Proof Set to commemorate my boyfriend’s 30th birthday and noticed the below “spear” coming out of the back of Lincoln’s neck. After taking the below pictures I also noticed that the same mark seems to come out of his chin as well (somewhat visible in 3rd picture), though the mark is not visible on the relief of Lincoln itself. Im just hoping to get a name for what this is so that we have something to call it when people see it 😏

On another note, I recently sent off my first submission to NGC. They were some coins I collected a a kid, a nice looking 1883 shield nickel, a 1875 20 cent piece I believe is a weak strike but I’m hoping comes back AU 55/8, a 1864 2 cent piece and a vet nice looking 1945 S Mercury come I’m hoping comes back FB 65 or higher. Basically, I’m just hoping the value of the 20 cent piece pays for these coins I’ve had sitting around since middle school, so please, send up some prayers to the ngc grading gods to have mercy on my submission!

[Greenstang]

Welcomes to the Forum

That spear looks like a linear plating bubble.

[FrankIII]

Thank you for the answer! Does that risk any future damage to the coin? They are hollow right, I wouldn’t want the zinc to become exposed in the set. 

[VKurtB]

2 minutes ago, FrankIII said:

Thank you for the answer! Does that risk any future damage to the coin? They are hollow right, I wouldn’t want the zinc to become exposed in the set. 

This is amazing to me. Proof cent blanks have double-thick copper plating, when compared to the circulation type.

[FrankIII]

I thought it was interesting too! Not used to seeing such obvious marks on proof set coins. And aesthetically it’s in a really interesting spot that (I don’t think) makes the coin appear ‘ugly’. I would be worried if there’s a possibility of it expanding more. Not really sure how that works. 

[James_OldeTowne]

At first glance, to me, it looks like a minute crack in the plastic, reflected back by the mirrored surface of the coin.