I have held on to this coin since I found it in a roll in the 70's and kept it for its oddity. Now, I would hope someone could help me with the clarity of what this coin is. The coin is a 1977 weak strike Lincoln Cent. On the front of the coin, IN GOD WE TRU " the date is 19--. There is a small blob or faint 77 that can be made out with standard numismatic magnifying lens but is hard on the naked eye. On the reverse, the writing above the Lincoln Memorial is not there. Gone. THe Lincoln Memorial is very weak, no detail, very faint and ONE CEN on it. I have spent an hour trying to take a pic but the flash isnt cooperating and its approaching midnight. Given the info, does anybody have any info on a production run of these, or is this a fluke or broken die coin, or just a lucky find, etc? Any help or discussion on this coin I would be most interested. Thank You Harry Hollis Bennettsville SC
First, welcome to the forum. It sounds like that is a defective die or filled die error. The low spots in the die were filled with any number of items, thus causing the letters and numbers to be missing.There are those that collect items such as this but I don't believe that there is any great value in them.
Post a photo...there isn't any way we can be sure about it untill we can see some photos of both sides. Speedy
If the design rim is strong, the rim/edge junction sharp, and the edge flat, then it's a filled die error. If the design rim is weak or absent, the rim/edge junction beveled, and the edge trapezoidal in vertical cross-section, then it's a weak strike.
Thank you all for the warm welcome! The edges are as you would find on a "normal" penny so to speak, with the raised rims if this is the correct way to describe it. I figured it was an oddity that just got put out there in circulation, nothing more than just a strange find. But, it is neat to look at and I assumed there is not any value to it. I will try to post a picture of it, as my digital camera and its mighty thermonuclear flash havent found common ground yet.
It would be a "grease strike" or "filled die" error, then. Worth only a buck or two, but still a nice find for pocket change.
If your flash is over powering the image and washing it out, a diffuser (simple as holding a piece of kleenex or printer paper over the flash) might help.
Excellent idea! Never heard of it, but will try it for coins and everything else with the camera. Now my kids wont have to do the "Duck and Cover" drill when they see the flash anymore Thank you for the tip....let me try it.
Actually Harry, you'll get much better pics of coins without the flash - turn it off if you can. Use a desk lamp for lighting the pics - it works much better
