What Happened To This 1975 Penny???

[bigmanSAM88]

Found this searching through rolls, and I have no idea where to start. What do you think happened to this penny? I am referring to the '8' looking thing next to the '1'. Thanks

[Conder101]

I have no idea where to start.

Let's start with a picture.

[robec1347]

[Buffalo_Pete]

It looks like something damaged the die.

 

It's not post-mint damage, the "8" is raised, and so is that scratch through the bottom of the 7.

 

Something had to fall on and attatch to the die to do that.

 

Your coin is as strange as the Wisconsin Extra Leaf quarter.

 

Pete

[JRocco]

Looks more like moved metal to me than mint damage.

That 1 isn't all there.

[WoodenJefferson]

I was thinking more along the lines of a planchet flaw that was there before the coin was even struck. It appears there are two depressions (creating the illusion of the number 8) but I think those are pockets created by a lamination flaw of sorts (gas bubbles, dirt any number of things when the raw composition was being rolled to thickness)

 

I believe the hit on the lower portion of the 7 is post mint damage.

 

Interesting anomaly