Hey, I work in a machine shop and I am the guy who carved the hobo nickel pictured earlier in the thread. I also hand cut dies (like the one I use for my avatar) and have several screw presses to strike coins. I can make as many of your coin as you want. Would you like to commission a run?
Look, there are literally thousands of ways it could have happened, but none of them involve the mint! I don't know about anyone else but I just don't have time to try the thousands of possibilities and destroy all those coins just to identify exactly how it was done. Your coin is damaged, if you don't like the answer you can send it to one of the third party graders and pay good money to get the same answer!
To the OP: since you are doubting the many experts that have spent years on this forum, the burden of proof falls on YOU to prove that it is an error. Post-mint damage can manifest in so many ways since there are essentially unlimited ways one can mess with a coin after it has been minted...so forgive us if we can't say EXACTLY what tool caused it--we still recognize the telltale signs of post-mint damage. Please study the minting process further to know how we know this(there's tons of information on this forum about it, as well as countless youtube videos).Until then, trust that WE have studied it and are giving you the correct answer.
@Lil ol' me Prove everyone here on Coin Talk wrong. Send it in to a TPG. Send it to PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG, your choice. I'll reimburse you for the total cost if your coins come back as genuine mint errors. Take me up on the challenge or stop your nonsense
Well I'll only got 50+ years of experience studying coins and the minting processes. I must have missed something, can you please explain to me exactly where in the mint processes this "error" could have occured and exactly how it was formed. I'd love to learn about some mysterious step that I have missed for 50 years.
I know you said you are new to coin collecting and that's great. The members that have answered you have a total of several hundred years of collecting coins. We've told you what we believe to be honest in that your coin is damaged and not a mint error. I would hate to see you spend good hard earned money to send this coin in for grading only to find out the truth. Sometimes, that's the only way to learn but it's an expensive way. Since you do not accept our reasoning and explanations, can you please tell us how this was made at the US Mint? How did this occur during the minting process? Please explain. I've been to the Philadelphia Mint a few times and I've seen coins being minted. Very neat and quite the process. I've spoken to a couple Mint employees and I know of no way this could take place at the Mint and be an error. I would love to hear how this is possible. Also, I've been collecting coins since I was 5. Yes, I started young but my father taught me a little and it has stuck with me for 60 years. In all that time I've never seen a picture of a coin or a coin itself that looks like yours. I like it and I wouldn't mind having one but it is not an error, it's been damaged as nothing like this is possible in the minting process. So if you could, please explain how this happened. Thank you.
I’ve read a lot of absurd/ridiculous posts on this site? Unfortunately, this one REALLY ranks up there. Wow some people ? Can I have the 3-4 minutes of my life back, I wasted?
I am not sure why you guys are jumping on me for asking questions. I'm not being rude or mean or even doubtful of your answers. I am simply asking questions. I was always taught to ask questions when I want to know something. I want to know what could have happened to this coin. Yes everybody has the same answer ...to wit: my question still only has 1 answer, being it's man made or it's post mint damage. I don't see how a person could pull all the letters evenly until it is diminished to a flat surface while rotating the PENNY at the same interval. Yet leaving slim to none evidence. It's a penny for Pete's sake. Who...and even if they aren't in their right mind...for why would someone take such time to deface a friking penny? Not only that but this took practice. Therefore ...there should be plenty more out there that's CLOSE to my degree of skills altering...NOT THE EXACT OPPOSITE (per a previous pintrest post). So im not being immature stubborn or one sided ...im simply wanting to learn about my penny. Thank you for the 3-4 minutes of my time y'all have flooded with nothing but copycat answers. (If it's the same answer as the guy before...nothing you say will persuade my common senses.)
That is if you had any common sense. With this cent you clearly do not. Carry on if you want to keep looking foolish, stubborn, one sided and childish!
It sounds like you altered the coin. Is that what you are saying? Anyone that has ever worked in a machine shop could duplicate the same look with any coin. Is someone going to take the time to do that? Probably not because it is not worth the time. It would not even require a CNC. It could be done with a drill press and the proper jigs to hold the coin in place. This ain't rocket science.
Exactly what I'm saying. Who would take the time...what are the chances? Guess I'm just a hands on kind of girl. I gotta see it to believe it. So since it 1) can be done in no time (yet nobody is willing to show me how....even though we are all under some kind of sit still order with nothing but time on our hands) 2) I've heard no reason for your findings 3)I just like to argue vs. Find out facts/learn by example 4) I have given at least 5 reasons why I think it could be mint error.... I have no choice than to believe that y'all are just being mean as to not get my hopes up... But getting upset because I am a very logical person...be it my favor or not...i try to see all possible situations in a neutral eye... I'm starting to think the mint don't even know what their machines are made for. (Oh n their fan club is very close minded)
Since you understand the damage to the coin is man-made on purpose then all that remains are why and how. We will probably never know the reason why. From my perspective, I have many times done things just because I can, or to see if I could do it. Nothing more in-depth than that. It may just be that it was fun to do. As far as how it was done, an array of answers have already been given. To answer your question about making the letter swirl. High-speed buffing would heat up the metal and start it moving, making it swirl. The same as buffing paint on a vehicle. The paint can be moved to cover an imperfection by buffing to the point of almost burning the paint. The paint moves small distances.
What 5 reasons did you give to indicate a mint error? You did show one picture of a different damaged coin, but I see no 5 reasons it could be a mint error.
I really think the best thing for you to do is put up the money, and have it checked by one of the professional graders.
You said in the previous post 4) I have given at least 5 reasons why I think it could be mint error.... You HAVE NOT given 5 reasons on how this happened at the mint. You have given NONE!! THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TELLING YOU!! In order for it to be a mint error, you need to explain how this could occur in the AT THE MINT! You're explanation that it isn't worth the effort for somebody to do this on metal working equipment, DOES NOT mean that it is a mint error Was it due to the die making process? Was it a defective planchet? Was it something that occurred during striking? THIS is the explanation/theory you need to answer. Even if you don't completely understand the minting process, you can at least posit some plausible ideas. The minting process is well documented. It's easy to do some research and prove to yourself that this could not occur. The members that are telling you it's not an error, know the minting process. They are trying to teach you that it can't occur at the mint. If you really want to learn, as you say, then this is the way to do it. Sorry, but I'm done with trying to help and I hope you haven't alienated too many other helpful members. Best of luck on your future collecting endeavors
I've already posted once that I'd be more than happy to duplicate your damaged coin in whatever quantity you want, I'll even take pictures of the process so you will see how it's done. And just a note on the swirreled letters, copper is a very malleable metal that can be moved with great ease by those who know how. I hope you take this as educational and not as a jab, but you don't seem to know even the basics of coin production or metal work, two things very important to this subject.
Just to add, swirled letters would mean something with a circular motion caused the damage. Nothing in the minting process would turn like this, but an electric drill would.