In organizing the vast pile of coins from a dresser drawer where my father tossed his spare cash, I found a 1920 Lincoln in which the zero in the date looked small. Found it was about the right size but it appeared much shorter than the other numbers. Also noted a fuzzy line running up from the top of the zero separating two fields and suggesting a lamination. Indeed, measurements with a dial gauge showed the narrow field that reaches to the rim is 0.0007 inch (0.02 mm) lower then the main field that reaches to the Lincoln image. The lamination is clearest north of the coin and extends to the rim, tapering down to 5 o’clock at the image and up to 12:30 o’clock, the first “T” on the motto. Apparently the thin skin of the lamination dragged along most of the zero, leaving no more than its trunk. Tried to get a decent picture of the zero. At a low angle it could not be seen. Hence the label “coy.” A dial gauge, however, did show the top of the zero is 0.0017 inch (0.04 mm) above its field. It is real and not just an image. Tried a new photographic approach recognizing that a coin is a 3D body and that it deserves to be seen from more than just a head on look. (Also honed my skill in using the zoom lens.) In the third photo the camera looks up from the end of date. It does make each date number look like a solid object. It also shows the edge of the lamination and the area it covers on the lower part of the coin along the rim. The fourth photo shows the lamination edge behind the zero. It was aimed more head on to the date and shows the first three numbers without distortion. The zero remains fuzzy. Noticed that the “WE” of the motto had a strange look with the “E” showing a curved bottom line. Took the fifth photo using two small bright desk lamps so that there could be separate control of background and of high lights. I did not want a diffuse light source and ended up with both lamps very close to the subject, almost blocking out some light to the camera. Used one lamp to light the background from the west and the other to highlight the top of the coin from the east. This shows that the “E” really is normal. Sadly, it also emphasizes the corrosion of zinc which has increased much more in these past couple of years. I particularly like the sixth photo where the coin was tilted back and the camera was aimed at an angle to the date. The result makes it look like the 1, 9, and 2 are scampering away leaving the coy zero still mired in the field. The only picture I have of the reverse is in the second photo. And the only thing of interest to me is what is that lava flow on the wheat ear on the right? Any ideas? Don’t be concerned if you tell me the coin is of no value. We’re sort of twins: the coin was minted in the year I was born.
Errors are not my field, but from what I can interpolate from those pictures, it only looks like glue and corrosion. I do not think there is a lamination, but if it were, it would distort what was beneath it. I overlaid his picture on the coin below and as best I can see, all numbers of the date match perfectly.
If I were in your shoes, the first thing I would do - heck it's the first thing I always do - is hit the Heritage Archives to look at fifty or so more of these, to see if that "weaker" zero was found on any other examples. Spoiler: It's pretty common.
