1994 Cent - What is this?

Not sure what this is. Die break? if so, really different.

 

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I'm not sure if it is a die break or not because I can see lines of separation atop the letters. If it was a break, those lines shouldn't be there. This is one of the Zincolns, so that may be the reason for it.

Chris

 

Very strange. @paddyman98 @furryfrog02 any thoughts?

 

I looked at it for a very long time when he first posted this Cent. The U and the N look perfectly struck. I can't say that it's definitely a Die Break of some sort. That center part sure is strange.
I was thinking dried glue or soldering material. But the color is just like the plating on the surface.

 

Yes, if the coloring was even a little more different, I'd suggest the same, but they match up so I'm confused. I would love to see this one in hand.

 

Here are a couple other pics from a different angle.

 

It needs two things: more light and sharper images. The first might help the second.

 

Are these any better @Seattlite86, about the best I can get.

 

It looks like it's independent of the letters. It could have been debris on the planchet that imparted damage to the die when the die struck it. If so subsequent strikes would show the damage just like that, "raised" off the surface. The debris of course would've had to be strong enough to impress into the die. Another theory would be this is how the hub looked that made the die. I'm all out of theories after that.

 

This seems to be the looks you are getting on here mmm
Keep me posted on for

 

To me it looks like an unusual die break. When tempered steel gets reheated over and over like in the striking process. If there is any defect in the steel stock itself. It will have a tendency to get extremely hard and brittle. I'm sure we've all seen this on other varieties of coinage. It's my theory and I'm sticking with it.

 

What are you, writing a novel? The hub would look like in those pictures.

 

I agree with edddiespin based on what this coin looks like. My only question is why hasn't anyone noticed this error before? If the die got damaged then one would think that there would be a bunch more of these errors floating around. And if a hub was damaged then it would have made other damaged dies and there would be even more of these errors out there.

 

Nah, just interesting. Just thought it is interesting to see that kind of error.

 

That was the way I was looking at it. Didn't mean other members. Sorry about that.

 

Who knows why things happen the way they do. Maybe the damage to this die occurred during the end of a production run. And after the die was inspected it was deemed unusable. Who knows how many of these are out there. I can only speak for myself, I collect oddities and PMDs. And I will admit this one does not have the I appeal for me. And I'm sure a lot of coin collectors including myself would just put this one back in circulation. So the reality is we will never know how many of these are out there. But then again someone on CT may find another one and let you know. I have found coin collecting is full of unexpected and unusual fines. And a lot of times you may not find the answers to your question. Since it seems I'm starting with RMD I'll say keep it put it back into circulation the choice is yours. USMC60

 

Sheila, that's OK. I'll apologize back for the wisecrack, I should have kept my cool. On the strange error, sometimes we just have to take a good hard look at the thing and draw on what we know. That's all we can do...

PS: Then we wait for Mike Diamond to come around and correct us...

 

Got feedback from Mr. Diamond.
"appears to have two very short, unusual-looking, blind-ended die cracks."
So, now we know.

 

I feel better already.