since the same look is on both sides I'd venture to say it was submerged in something acidic. But the pics are too small to say for certain.
What literature are you using? Do you have a book describing error coins such as The error coin Encyclopedia by Margolis & Weinberg or perhaps The Official Price Guide to Mint Errors by Alan Herbert? The coin appears to have been damaged after it left the mint. I would guess that you can see damage on the edge of the coin as well. Is this correct? The date appears to be before 1982 so the coin is solid copper and it has toned over the damage which probably occured long ago.
It is not an error; it is a spender. The coin has sustained some sort of damage, possibly environmental damage.
I was thinking environmental myself. Looks like something found on the beach, salt water eats away at copper over time.
Mystery solved!!! You guys are good! Yes, it was probably found on the beach as it was one of thousands of pennies that I have found metal detecting. My reference literature is not quite as sophisticated as those mentioned above (...gross understatement!...)...."Strike it Rich With Pocket Change", Allen Potter. Before you die laughing ointnlaugh:, you have to understand that I am a metal detector hobbyist and not a coin collector. So I have to give you guys credit for quickly weeding out the conditions and environment that created the present condition of this coin (I hoped it was an error because it would have been a BIG one and worth plenty! I was about to christen it the “Tree Crashing over Lincoln’s Head” error ....ho, ho....to be sold at auction for $1,000,000 :too-cool-for. The expertise that you so graciously and generously provide is exactly why I come to you (all) (....ya’ll) for identification. Thanks again for your comments :smile.
I enjoy the book "Strike it Rich With Pocket Change." I don't use it for pricing, but it helps open my eyes to things I never thought to look for. I'm taking baby steps into error coin hunting and that book is easy to digest. I looked at the Cherry Pickers Guide and it nearly made my eyes bleed.
Here is a link to Coneca's Glossary, it'll help until you get more books, and probably after http://conecaonline.org/content/glossary.html
