Rockwell test mark?

The only planchets the mint purchases are the cent planchets/ Everything else is blanked at the mint from purchased strip. They could do a hardness test on the strip though I'm not sure why they would. If the did and the mark ended up on a planchet the force of the strike would most likely obliterate it, ESPECIALLY if the mark was in the field area of the coin. As for Rockwell tests on die blanks, I could see them doing that to make sure they were soft enough for hubbing, but they would do it on the side of the die body not the die faces. If they DID do it on the die face it would be at the edge where the metal would later be cut away on the lathe as they reduced the die body down to create the neck of the die. I can't see them doing it on the part of the die face that would end up containing the design.

 

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I have a 1776-1976 D Kennedy with the same mark in the location.

 

Out of how many coin folks have seen this thread I can't believe that someone don't know what most likely happened to the OP'S cent coin. I'm almost certain it is a struck thru coin. In some cases a few tiny beads of mint debris will build up on the dies and get struck into the coins. I have seen hundreds of our modern coins like this from searching thru new rolls of coins from the mint. I kept two awesome state quarters that are identical and from the same die. On the reverse side they have numerous tiny round sunken in places of different sizes that looks like a finale in a fireworks display. When looking at the obverse side both coins have a larger round or maybe oval sunken in place in the side of Washington's head. So the beads of mint debris or whatever it is can become attached to the dies and keep on striking coins until it wears off .I will try to find these two awesome coins and start a thread for them if someone would like to have a look .

 

As far as I'm concerned all Rockwell planchet test marks are dubious, including the 1971-S cent whose image was reproduced here. That page on error-ref.com is going to be updated to reflect this.

 

Nate you don't have one.
There are other threads on this subject and if you read them you will
realize it's impossible.
If I recall, even if you have one, no one will certify that it is an RTM. Also, I don't think they were put back into circulation, but if they were, the marks were removed or filled in, or whatever.