Looks to be post mint damage... but I couldn't tell you what it was. Acid maybe? Any chance of a clearer picture?
Looks like true mint error to me . I would have to say it looks like struck on severe defective planchet.
If the weight is normal, the coin perfectly round, and the reeding unaffected, then it could be an unusual struck-through error affecting both dies.
Mike I was just getting ready to say the same thing. the reverse side does appear to be struck thru and if it is the obverse side would have to be struck thru also. this would be extremely rare for this to happen with a doubled sided struck thru with the struck thru places directly opposite each other.I would say laminated planchet but the copper core don't appear to be showing.most likely thing I can think of is severe damaged planchet before strike.
I thought acid at first but how would one get it to square off like it is on both sides? Also, how did they keep the rim pretty much intact and not affected by the acid?
This could not possibly be a acid job because the super thin nickel layer is still on the area in question. if this was eaten away by acid the copper would be showing. this coin is definately a mint error and is either struck thru on both sides or the copper core was severly damaged in this area before the nickel layers were applied to the copper.mostlikely this was from close to the end of the big metal strip the coin blanks are cut from. I would love to own this coin,this is the odball type i'm attracted to. I have too many normal errors and varieties and have about stopped with the normal stuff.
This coin is going up for sale on Ebay if any of you want to take a stab at owning it. Auction starts tomorrow at 8PM and the bidding starts at .99 cents.
I think this could be a fold-over struck through, a piece of something fed into the coining chamber at the same time as the planchet and struck into both sides of the coin. A photo of the reeding at the affected area might show more clues. Just my humble opinion.
