Yup. When your goal is economy, your best bet is always to let lobbyists for one raw-material supplier drive the decisions.
I'd say it was a Mint Error (planchet type approved by someone with room-temperature IQ), but I don't think it was a Mint employee who committed it.
Don't clean that Cent. You will lessen the value!.. Also Try a little bit of WD40.. It will stop it from decaying even further
I'm pretty sure that coin had help from someone intentionally to aid in its demise at that state even being at minimum 19 years old.