If a coin is counterstamped, shouldn't there be evidence of displaced metal? I found this today and it looks more like a strike through.
What would ya'll "honestly" do with it? I say "honestly" because there are some on here who's dream in life is to destroy everyone elses.
My dream in life is to hit the Powerball for $450 million! If you want to start a collection of counter-stamped coins, that's fine. Just make sure a seller on SleazeBay isn't making them in his basement. Chris
The question asked in the original post was, if it were counter stamped, wouldn't there be displaced metal? No metal on the coin shows signs of being moved from its original position, not even the details of the ear. No one has answered that.
That's 'cause, from the picture posted, you really can't tell one way or the other. I can detect no metal displacement from the pics posted. I blew it up and could still see nothing. Perhaps some better pics? How about a closeup of the area in question?
Answer this: "Why don't you see metal displacement on US coins with recessed lettering?" It is because the base of the die surrounding each letter prevents it from being pushed out. It's the same thing with most letter punches. Metal displacement is expected to be seen from a gouge or scratch. Chris
That metal you speak of has been displaced, moved, shaped, into all details of the die. For that to have happened here, the punch to make that mark, tea bag, or whatever, would have all the same details of the coin die including the mark and earlobe. If not the metal from that crevice would move in a direction of least resistance, or up. When mint marks were punched into the dies on older coins, the metal displaced by the punch, raises around that mint mark. If that metal isn't ground or polished off, it leaves a depression around the mint mark on a struck coin. All that being said, total removal of the metal by a cutting tool could be used to make details on a coin, but from examining this coin and how deep the mark is, I believe if this was the case, copper would be showing in the crevice.
In all honesty? I'd spend it and never think twice about it. The coin has obviously been counter punched regardless of what you see or feel about "metal displacement". It's just too perfect and far too even to be a "struck through".
If you don't want to accept my opinion, that's fine with me, but I'm not going to get into a discussion about whether or not the surface metal (nickel) was capable of hiding the subsurface metal (copper) after the post-mint damage of being struck by a number punch occurred. For all I care, you can throw the coin in a wishing well at your local mall. I don't collect this sort of PMD. Have a nice day! Chris
Looks like an American chop mark similar to what you would find on a Trade Dollar. No metal displacement. Keep it for a novelty or spend it.