This is very hard to see so I laid the penny flat and if you know what to look for you can see the "waffle cone" appearance on the obverse of the coin. I then took two pictures with the light reflecting into the scales or waffle cone marks; they look to be travelling NE-SW or SW to NE. Thoughts?
It doesn't look like it is embedded in the coin as a strikethrough would. I'm guessing that it was in contact with some type of fabric for a long enough period of time to tone on the surface of the coin. It may be unusual, but I don't think it is an error. Chris
Thanks Chis, it is my pictures so let me try to show you the shoulder/chest area close up as it does appear to be part of the coin but is not distorting or overlaying the features such as numbers, letters, etc which material residue would do. Thoughts?
Just lightly wiped it with pure acetone to remove any surface residue; and took another pic with my cell phone where you can really see the waffling...especially in the hair and chest region...
Like Chris said, it was in contact with something like a piece of fabric that caused that toning/corrosion pattern. The coin has a lot of corrosion on other parts as well. Copper is a very reactive metal.
I will agree with Chris, It looks like it was stuck to fabric for a long time, possibly a chair or couch. Pattern is on high points of coin, course pattern like upholstery.
Your close-up is just a blurry enlargement and it doesn't help. I stand by my original thought. Chris
