1963-P Lincoln Cent - equidistant round "punches" in obverse

While rolling the BU cents from the bag I came across this rainbow toned cent with the two round punches in it.

Any ideas what caused these marks?

 

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obvious post mint damage.

 

It's post strike damage . Was this a mint sewn bag?

 

If it came from a mint bag, could it be mint produced Rockwell Test marks?
http://www.error-ref.com/rockwell-test-mark-in-planchet/

 

I hope they are Rockwell Test marks... and not the results of a bored kid with a BB gun and some free time! Keep us posted!

 

Rockwell Tests were done to planchets , not struck coins.

 

True but the planchets could still be struck after the test was done.

 

From the reference I posted, the planchet was tested and then struck. The OP coin also doesn't appear to have the pressure ridges around the 'holes', that would result from the PMD. BUT, now looking at the reverse, it also wouldn't have the bulges since it was struck and the dies would have taken care of that. SO...???

 

So... we wait to find out what kind of bag , though it is post strike damage at the end of the day

 

I would agree. PMD.

 

Just wanted to say that there are definitely preasure ridges around the anomalies on the obverse. Look at how the reflected light changes at the edges

 

And the strike would flatten and pretty much wipe out the test marks, and it would completely wipe out the bulges on the back side of the planchet/coin.