1998 P Nickel on front, partial penny on back

Hi all. I have to be honest I'm just learning about coins and errors and my head is just spinning! I think I may be hooked.
In searching through my huge change jar I found this (pic included). It's a perfectly fine nickel on one side and on the back you can make out the nickel's outline and some of monticello (I think it is right?) but over that is SOME penny. The coin is no thicker, no heavier and I have pics of it along side a "regular" nickel to be certain. At first I thought possibly they were somehow stuck together but the writing on the "penny" on the back is in reverse! The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE CENT, E PLURIBUS, it's all in reverse. I don't know of anyway that someone could actually forge that by hand...so I'm thinking it's a genuine mint error. Any thoughts, advice or suggestions would be great! Thanks so much in advance, I've got lots to learn!

 

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Hi,

This is an easy one.

You are looking at a layer of adhesive of some kind. A cent and a nickel were glued together and then separated. That is why the details of the cent are reversed.

Thanks,
Bill

 

yep, looks like a glue job to me as well.

 

What they said.

Sorry, but keep looking.
Goodluck.

 

Really?

So someone glued these coins together and pulled them apart and part of the penny stuck to the nickel?
Looks like I'm not going to retire after all! LOL
I have a HUGE jar of older coins and pocket change that I've been sifting through as I'm learning about coins and I have a few more error coins I've pulled out and put aside. Is it okay to post them here and ask questions about them? I have a Massachusetts state quarter with a regular face but the sides of it are copper and raised, almost like a bottle cap. Of course someone will probably tell me THAT IS A BOTTLE CAP! LOL
Thanks for your help all!
Lisa

 

Lisa:
#1: No, the 'penny' did not stick to the nickel, the image/impression stuck to the glue.

#2: Please post a picture of the quarter--
Now, that COULD be something.

[reserves comment at this point.]

 

Thank you! I understand now...little slow on the pick up but I'm with you now...LOL
I will most certainly post a picture tonight of the quarter! I am super grateful for your help!
Lisa

 

Isn't it possible that a mint employee with a lot of time on his hands and no supervisor around simply laid a penny face down on the bottom die of the nickel and struck it a second time?

If, as has been suggested, the image that is seen on the coin is actually a layer of glue, then acetone (nail polish remover) should remove it. I'd like to see the result of doing that.

 

Anything is possible but if a Mint employee did as you stated:

1) Doubling would be apparent on the obverse of the nickel (unless the Mint employee perfectly aligned the already-struck nickel with the obverse die - which is, for all practical purposes, impossible). And the second strike would be especially strong because, with both a nickel and a cent in the striking chamber, the dies would have much more metal between them to squeeze in the space between them.

2) The cent would be pressed into the reverse of the nickel rather than being raised above the original reverse surface. My guess is the cent may become fused in the nickel due to the heat generated during the striking process (with the image of a nickel reverse struck into it). But it is also possible the cent could become separated from the nickel after striking but the deep impression of it in the nickel would remain.

I think your scenario is highly unlikely.

 

That depends on the adhesive...

Also, I feel it is important to note that this is not guesswork on my part. I've seen many coins, first hand that display the same thing, and they all had a layer of glue affixed to them.

Thanks,
Bill

 

Not to interrupt but should I try acetone or finger nail polis remover to see if the glue releases?

 

I would do that. It won't hurt the coin itself.

 

Finger Nail Polish Remover w/ acetone okay?

 

Post a picture of the Mass Quarter but it sounds like a spoon job! Keep Looking

 

I did post about the quarter last night. There's another discussion on it in the Error Coins forum.
Spoon job or dryer...I'm striking out! LOL
I'm off to the library for a couple of books; I've got about 40lbs of coins to sort so I'm sure I'll be back soon!
I'll also let you know what happens with the acetone nickel!

 

If what is used on the coin is a laquer, don't be surprised if the fingernail polish remover doesn't do anything. keep in mind that Nail polish remover has a very low concentration of acetone in it.

If the adhesive was not actually removed, see if it became tacky. Still depending upon what the adhesive is, it may need a solvent other than an acetone based product like nail polish remover.

Thanks,
Bill

 

That's the ticket! If a cent was placed on another coin and struck again it would be sunk DEEP into the other coin and when the cent fell out you would see the reverse image down in the bottom of a CUP.

 

DO NOT USE NAIL POLISH REMOVER "CONTAINING" ACETONE!

Sorry to shout, but using adulterated acetone is a pretty scary thing to do.

The only safe approach is to get pure acetone from a paint or home improvement store, put some in a glass or china dish/cup and dip the coin, then rinse it with distilled or deionized water a couple of times. Always use acetone in a very well ventilated place and avoid breathing the fumes or getting it on your skin.

 

[M SORRY MY COMPUTER JUST WENT STUPID. I WANTED TO POST A PIC OF THE COIN I HAVE AND SEE IF ANYONE CAN TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT IT.