The damage seems to regular to be environmental. I feel like it's some kind of mint error. I'm not an error collector though and I don't know what to call this or what causes it. What do you think?
I... have... no idea. Does it look like it could be a magician's coin of some kind? Could you, for example, delicately pry that side with the Cape buffalo out, using that "thumb notch", and separating the two halves of the coin? Or is it still all in one piece? Maybe it even is an error, for all I know, but I'll be darned if I know what process would cause that. I look forward to seeing further replies on this one. Edit- never mind- see subsequent reply
Wow. Yeah, that's what I was looking at. It never occurred to me it was supposed to be that way. This is the most mistaken I've been about an error since I saw the first of the new UK coins that make up a shield together.
Like the UK coins you mentioned, it does have a very unusual appearance. I was unfamiliar with this type and had never seen that weird notch.
What is the numismatic terminology used to describe this "cut out" on this coin? What kind of coin would we call this?
Interesting coin. The coin has a security feature(notch or cutout) if you hold the coin one way you can read 500 . If you turn it another way you get BOT(bank of Tanzania).It is a sort of hologram anti- counterfeiting device. They made over 100million of these coins to replace banknotes that wore out too fast. Royal Mint engraver artist Jody Clark had a hand in designing it.