Received this penny in change today. I would like opinions about the obverse from Lincoln head to the date. Also the extra leaf on the reverse.
The parts of the coin that stand the highest is the deepest on the die that strikes it. The fields of the coin ( flat parts) are the lowest, and on the die the highest. So someone would have to add metal on the top part of the die to make something deeper on the coin, so this is damage.
Kinda curious as to what makes you think it happened at the Mint? When you see a 1974 used Cadillac ElDorado with the front left fender crinkled do you ask yourself, "I wonder why the Assembly Plant did that?"
It really is surprising that folks actually think that damage is Mint related, especially at this degree.