The picture of the edge is showing thinner material than where the image is not smudged. Could the planchette be thinner in the top half to allow the blurry image be both on the OBV and REV?
They made 1.8 billion of these. Even with an error, the rest of the coin would have to be immaculate to be worth anything. This looks like damage.
I'm on the fence. I don't think you should spend it until someone proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is damaged.
Under the mintmark it almost looks like the metal wants to start flaking off. Looks like a worn die coin kind of rough, not smooth.
The pics are not super sharp but it looks like you have a coin struck on a planchet that split before it was struck. If you weigh it , it should be less than 5 grams. There should be striations on the reverse where detail is totally missing, or if this coin saw much circulation , what is left of the striations. Here are some pics of two of my coins that the planchet split/laminated before they were struck. They show the striations I speak of . Nice find ! 1960-D split b4 strike by stoneman227, on Flickr 1959 lam b4 strike by stoneman227, on Flickr 1959 lam b4 strike c by stoneman227, on Flickr 1959 lam b4 strike d by stoneman227, on Flickr
This pic includes a buffalo nickel that split after the strike. The striations may resemble those on this coin. 1960-d str on sp and 1924 buff rev by stoneman227, on Flickr
There is speculation that the upsetmill is the culprit that finds the weaknesses in a planchet and forces the split.
I had to look up what an upsetmill is. Thanks! Upsetting Mill A machine that raises the outer rim on a planchet prior to striking. Upsetting ensures that the rims are properly formed during striking
