I came across this coin and thought that some folks around here might find it educational. Is this an LIIB or is it?
The 2 responses above are definite evidence of something other going on than an LIIB. One more that I will point out because it is not easily seen in the photos is there is another upright of the L along the rim. Is there anything else in the photos that would suggest Die Deterioration? I see a few.
It appears to have radial flow lines and the outside lettering looks like it’s spreading towards the rim. There’s correct terminology for this but I can’t remember it at the moment.
When the L climbs up against the rim like that it puts the opposite stress on the next letter, the I, and there's your smear off the I. Note the planchet is cheated and tilted down to that side, see the other side directly across. Your 3 has a strike shadow and the motto appears completely normal.
Actually the Motto shows tell tale signs of DD along with the 3. Die deterioration in this form shows a secondary image along the outer devices towards the rim. The dies are no longer sharp and the devices on the outer edge take the heaviest amount of stress during the striking process.
Just want to drop a line in order to express my gratitude by saying Thank You to Pickin and Grinin, Fred Weinberg, Danomite, eddiespin, and all members for contributing your knowledge and insight into this error/variety coin diagnostic exercise, and for all of your invaluable daily contributions of information, help, resources, and material. I realize that many of you dedicate an incredible amount of your valuable time & energy to this site answering questions that range from genuinely complex to the painfully ignorant. It is incredibly knowledgeable and charitable members such as yourselves that make CoinTalk such a special place. You have created and continue to maintain such a high-caliber reliable & enriching "go-to" educational resource for numismatists/collectors of all levels of experience, including wanna be's like myself. I hope you will forgive my rambling but for whatever it's worth...coming from a far less active/knowledgeable member such as myself...I am truly grateful to be a part of this amazing coin community.
