That's the copper core showing up on top. The collar (rim) is plated. Looks at first like a "partial plating" (for lack of a better term), except the reverse, as you can see, is normal. I guess that means I want some detail on the plating process and a related explanation as to how this might have happened. Unless you think it's something else, then, swing away. Thanks. PS: I call it a Denver mint because I can see a faint D. But that's a non-issue, here, of course.
rusty knows about this he is the resident expert on biting coins but rusty i did not even see it before today
I didn't think that cents were plated until the mid 80's(83?). Sorry I can't be of more help. Cool find though.
That cent has the 'woodgrain' effect, which can be very pretty, also it looks like a lamination (or de-lamination).
Then "plating" is the wrong word, I forgot. But there's "surface" missing there. Thanks. When my battery charges up I'll give you (hopefully) some better looks. I had this setting on White Balance and that really doesn't show the color difference very well. I think I can do better on a different lighting setting. We'll see.
OK back to this. I guess the collar/rim wouldn't be affected if it was that, right? You see, that's what threw me the first time, I was just assuming the collar/rim would be affected. So anyway, if we call this that, it isn't the impurities or improper alloy mix type...principally, because of the straight edge. It's rather the type of a foreign material on the sheet and the blank is struck and the rest is history. I'm guessing, now. Here are the (hopefully) better pics...
Copper coating of the zinc cent started in 1982. It looks like someone took a wood chisel to yours. The last picture looks like the 'u' is sheared. I think.
The letters are deformed because a thin sheet of metal fell off. this is a peeled off lamination. Laminations can extend to the rim because the layer of peeled metal can extend to the edges. How could someone chisel the fields around the letters without removing the letters.
If you took a chisel, placed it on the coin at a 90 degree angle and smacked it with whatever it would leave a mark similar to the one on eddiespin's coin. IMHO
Captainkirk is correct! It is a lamination separation or peel (technical designation as a de-lamination) which is apparent due to the letters being intact inside and outside of the flaw (peel). If the area had been chiseled off, then the letters inside the flawed area, would have been removed along with the missing surface of the coin. Frank
Thank you again Frank! And thank you Captain of the Starship Enterprise. This one had me going a little bugsy. And Rockkdude, you still rock...thanks for offering what you were thinking! But, you want to see some wrong opinions on error coins, I've got three years of them, just go back in my archives. But that's how guys like us learn, pal...when we make the mistakes. Thanks all again! Another satisfied customer, here.