My grandson has become a coin junky at the age of ten, and it's my fault. He loves that I encouraged him, as he is long distance and we have something in common. He especially loves looking for penny errors. He found this 1942 wheat penny that at first looks like it was mashed in circulation. But, "he" pointed out that there is lettering in the "mash". I attached pictures. I don't recognize anything and thought someone out here would. Thanks...
That would be odd??? To hit a coin with a hammer with another coin underneath. Wouldn't the letters be "in" the penny, instead of "out", like they are now?
Based upon your pictures, the letters are incused. If the letters were protruding they would be worn, not dark. Maybe not struck with a hammer (no telling), but struck. Just my opinion. Wait for the experts to chime in though.
If the letters were formed with a another strike of the die, they wouldn't be backwards. Yes this is intentional damage from pressing 2 coins together.
The imprint is recessed, and you can see that the letters "ATES" from STATES are backwards. Another coin was pressed into it, but the damage to the obverse makes it look like pressure was applied close to the edge rather than on the entire coin. It's PMD! ~ Chris
DEFDAM - Definitely Damaged Not a mint error of any kind - Mr. Ed (Specializing in collecting mint errors since 1985)
