This isn't the first time this has been reported. I did a quick search and back in 05' a guy asked the same question. Has any one else seen this. I took pics of mine tonight. OLD POST: http://www.cointalk.com/t4482/ Current pic:
Grease filled die is the most likely. The grease can mix with metal particles and become very hard. If it fills the depression in the die that is going to make the raised number, it will just stamp the metal flat with the field in that area, and no number. A less likely cause can be the action of a maladjusted mechanical coin counter scraping off the number, but I see no obvious scrape in that area, so filled die is the best opinion. Jim
Well, this guy on ebay thanks it's worth $4,995. LPL! My thought on this is a "trend" that no one is really seeing as cool as a WAM?? Why is that?" http://cgi.ebay.com/1991-ONE-CENT-P...h-grease-/260556123337?pt=Coins_US_Individual
Because struck through grease is as common as dirt which is why no one bought his. You'll find all kinds of coins with missing devices listed on ebay as one of a kind, rare, scarce etc.. It's just unscrupulous sellers trying to get an uneducated collector to part with his hard earned money.
Yeah, as a matter of fact, we just recently had a thread in which someone has an SQ with a grease-filled die completely blocking "AMERI" on the obverse so it looks like UNITED STATES OF ....CA. I didn't even know CA seceded from the Union. Chris
In this case it can't be the result of a scrape from a coin counter because such a scrape would have torn through the copper plating where the 1 was exposing the zinc core.
I have the 1991 no mint with the one missing but not totally. It's also missing the L in the word Liberty and the I in the word In all on the obverse (face) of the coin. Does this coin have any value?
Just 1 Cent Worn Die strikes cause the issues you are seeing. It is a Common find on Copper Plated Zinc Cents. By the way.. No Mint Mark just means it was minted at the Philadelphia Mint
