I have what I think is a 1948 Large Cent, which might be a N-33 (this is the closest Newcomb I could find when eliminating about 34 other varieties that have images available online). If it is a rarer variety, I might get it graded, but that raises another question... is this unique shape on the Obverse a Mint error or damage? I have thought about this and cannot come up with a logical explanation for the damage other than a strike through of a sewing needle or some such metal object. IF it was PMD or vandalism, whomever did it was surgical in their precision... as the "walls" of the void are very well defined. Any input is appreciated:
Tiny metal cutoff/grinding wheel took that spot out, that is why there is no displaced metal like there would be if it was hit with a chisel or something. I've used these little grinding wheels on metal and that is exactly what an unfinished cut looks like... Don't ask me why someone would do that, might have been an accident though, interesting
Thanks all for your opinions. Seems the consensus is damage, and I will trust those with more experience! Seems logical... if it had a strike through, there would likely have been damage in the fields too; odds are the "foreign object" wouldn't have been isolated only to the device. Thanks! I invested in a used dino-lite digital microscope to help search for varieties and to help unload unwanted coins on ebay. It is a great tool... but the lack of information on them caused me many (expensive) problems by ordering the wrong model twice before getting the correct one that works with my computer and also has the correct field of view for coins. As I ask more than I contribute, maybe I can add my experiences to any threads/subs that deal with optics.
