A Mint-Cancelled (Waffled) Lincoln Cent?

Does anyone know if the Mint waffles or used to waffle Lincoln Cents? Just wondering if this is waffled cent is legitimate. I know the Mint has to waffle coins sent out to be recycled so they don't leave as spendable currency/legal tender and don't require a police escort, but I just didn't know if they waffled cents. It looks how it should look and appears legitimate, but am just not sure.

Also, if the Mint started waffling coins in 2003, how are waffled SBA coins minted in the '70s-'80s & 1999, and even IKEs, in existence? Is it because the Mint has hoards of unreleased coins from long ago that they they waffled to be sold as scrap rather than keeping them in stroage?

 

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Why would they bother waffling a zinc cent? Seems to be more trouble than it is worth. Where did this one come from?
As for melting clad coins (SBA, IKES) for scrap it makes no sense as the value of the coin is worth so much more than the scrap price.

 

I know that planchets are made at an outside contractor in Tennessee, and then the planchets are shipped to the Mint to be struck. So I am guessing upon review ones that are struck defectively or escaped quality control from the contractor are waffled at the Mint. Just didn't know if anyone saw one before.

 

I think the Mint has to because without being waffled, it requires a police escort to be shipped back to the contractor for recycling because it is still legal tender. Being waffled, it is no longer legal tender and at that point the Mint isn't as concerned.

 

That's the first waffled cent I've seen. Nice looking too.

 

Why would the cent pictured be waffled though? I don't see any obvious (to me) planchet defects or anything. There also doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the strike. I can't think of a reason it would need to be destroyed.
My thought is that it is not legit. But that's just me.

 

The spacing between the creases is right-on for others that I know are legit. I know many are destroyed because they are improperly annealed, but I just don't know how this particular one would be singled out to be destroyed.

 

It looks like it has spent some time circulating. It looks like there's crud above the "O" and "S" in IGWT.

 

You purchased it?
I know how much it might of cost you..
Too much!

 

no way! i only bought a couple for my book, all with readable dates (nickel dime, quarter, sac, prez). I bought 3 slabbed waffled qraters for $10 at a show; nickel and dime were $5 each. both dollars were $15 total. not buying others as they are worthless and not coins

 

I think it is legit the more i look at it.

 

@JCro57 so.. Do you think a cancelled coin would ever be attributed as a Mint Error?

 

Well, now that depends...

If the reason the coin was cancelled is normally classified as a mint error (off center, improperly annealed), than I would consider a proper designation to be labeled as a "Mint Cancelled Mint Error."

 

I have only ever seen 2 of them..
And I own one. I sent this to NGC and they attributed as a Mint Error.. But I don't know why!

 

All the US Mint waffled coins that I have seen use a different waffle pattern, not just straight lines. Like this

 

And it has the Mint Error attribution.. 3rd example I have ever seen!

 

How do they wind up outside the mint? (In someone's collection).
Do the workers have to go through metal detectors?
Someone picked these out of the trash once it was outside?

 

http://www.error-ref.com/?s=waffle

 

Goo

I know a guy in FL who gets them from people who take the scrap coins.

 

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