Never saw one like this before and it came from a "sealed tightly crimped solid roll". It appears as if the zinc core from another coin broke away from the reverse of another and was transferred to the obverse. It has impressions of the memorial. I know, it looks like glue and I'm not trolling on this.
I know what is appears as in the photo, just having a hard time grasping why, in the middle of a sealed bank wrapped roll of solid dates. All the coins in this roll were ruined and all appear similar with zinc problems all over the ob/rev. but no bubbles, etc. There were even tiny bits of zinc still attached to many of the coins. Oh well, probably just foreign substance that got in the mix somehow.
Have you considered taking a pin (preferably heated) to it? May not be a solve-all, but may help to answer the question.
@tommyc03 Before you do this, do you have a microscope with which you can examine the edges of the anomaly under high magnification? The reason I ask is because I'm wondering if it could be a retained dropped element. This is only a theory on my part, but it looks like a zinc layer sits on top of a copper layer (which sits on top of the coin). Chris
I do have a high power stereo microscope Chris. I'm not even sure if zinc, once exposed like this can change color to look like this glue substance. This coloration only appeared after I scanned the coin. Possibly an lighting artifact is showing this type of discoloration. This roll has been sealed since 1983 and I just broke it open recently because of all the hoopla surrounding the rare copper 1983. I remember buying this right after the 7 variety 1982's. I ordered all eight rolls from the same dealer.
I certainly could not argue with such fine advice, but do keep in mind my suggestion was made to (and only to) a competent individual. Had I not thought Tommy fully capable of doing it without potentially damaging the coin, I wouldn't have said anything, even if only because such threads live on in relative perpetuity.
It is only a guess on my part, but what made me wonder is the fact that the portion near the rim appears to have partial lettering on it. Besides, how could glue have come into contact with a coin that has probably never seen the light of day since it left the Mint? Chris
I actually remember ordering these from Virg Marshall. No @BooksB4Coins, I don't want this to go on forever either. In hand, under my loupe it looked nothing like the pic I posted and that was the only reason I came to ask. I'll try the scope tonight and report tomorrow.
Yes, purchased in 1983 and Virg could have done his own wrapping from bags but he was always a trusted dealer for me.
I meant only that the threads live on and not that we go on forever... I also meant to poke with the pin and not scrape. Apparently I'm having one of those days. Haha.. my apologies.
To me it does look like a foreign substance. Could it be a melted wrapper that seeped inside the stack like solder on copper fittings?
I would like to see the micro pics. My opinion though, by the way the num looks to be pressed into the substance. I am thinking that it is post mint and made it into the roll during packaging.