What happened to "WE" on this two cent piece?

It's a PCGS MS66RB and the less common 1865 plain 5, DDO, FS-102 variety. I'm assuming a filled die, but what else could it be? Struck-through? See the pics.

Cal

 

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weak strike

 

My thought exactly

 

I agree with the weak strike diagnosis.

 

So, presumably the "WE" is the high point of the coin, and there wasn't enough die pressure to cause it to fill?

Cal

 

You have the coin in hand? I ask because the WE is there and the mottled toning and the image may just be rendering difficult to see.

 

Below is a TrueView pic of the obverse.

 

In short, Yes. The planchette itself could have been defective, in that one side was thinner than spec, dies could have been misaligned, etc. the grade it received tells me that there was something that resulted in the poor strike on the upper portion of the obverse. Can you see any lack of definition on the lower portion of the reverse?

 

I agree that at least some of the difficultly seeing it is likely from the toning

 

Below is a TrueView pic of the reverse. The knot in the wreath corresponds to the "WE" on the obverse. The knot looks to be of at least average strike.
Cal

 

Interesting, seeing no real weakness on the reverse I'm assuming the poor obverse strike is Die related.

 

Yeah. That was my assumption in the OP. Either the "WE" in the die was filled or covered with something when the hammer fell. I suppose a localized hard spot on one side of the planchet could cause it, but seems less likely.

Cal

 

Filled die would be my guess