May very well be a planchet flaw as the devices (Abe's face and the letters) are struck over it and don't exhibit the same problem.
It looks like it was struck through debris that was compacted into the die then fell out. I saw a lot of these when searching a $50 1980 Mint bag. Chris
IF it was debris on the die it would have infected the devices - not gone under them as the pics show!! Unless it was debris on the planchent stamping machine that forms the cent planthets with the rims ready for the final coin stamp
If the debris falls onto the planchet and then is struck by the die, don't you think the device could be imprinted over the debris? Think about it. Besides, nothing can infect the devices if they already had their shots. Chris
OK - I did think about it and re-looked at the pics - you are correct - thank you for giving me that option. I try to picture the process in my mind (what little I have left) and now I see your point!!
Still thinking - IF the devices were struck over the debris - wouldn't the debris be locked into the coin by the struck devices? Unless of course it was soft enough to be pulled out from the strike!
Ya ever think the Indians are Damn good? Lindor is Amazing - we won 2 over Toronto even though Kipness and Napoli are O-for
Very nice coin. Very interesting. Im still new at this, but where does the debris come from and what is it? How does it get onto the die @cpm9ball ?
What if that portion of the debris was very thin? I've seen this on a retained strikethrough, too. Chris