This is a us 2 cent coin that I found in some of my dads stuff. One side is blank and the other has the 2 cent image on it. Can anyone tell if this is really a blank on one side or if someone sanded it down? Any help would be appreciated.
It's a physical impossibility to strike only one side of a coin - the press doesn't work with only one die in it. Therefore, somebody sanded it down. Did a nice smooth job of it, at that.
I can't tell you for certain, but it was quite common in the era this coin would have circulated for people to smooth one side of a coin and carve or engrave designs or initials in them. They are called love tokens, and it is possible this was done initially for that purpose. Speculation of course, but it is certainly sanded or smoothed.
No Another thing to look at as evidence of the coin being grounded down is the absence of the raised rim on the side in question. See the raised rim on the obverse? Not present on the Reverse side. Not an error.. you have a PSA Post Strike Alteration.. aka PMD Post Mint Damage
Welcome to CT. The blank side was man made smooth so it could be engraved for a loved one, which was common in those days. Search Love Tokens, you'll see what I mean.
No it IS possible, but very rare. It can happen if two planchets are loaded into the coining chamber at the same time. The resulting coins will have one side EXTREMELY well struck from the excessively high pressure, the upper coin typically is not completely within the coining chamber and will show a partial collar. The lower coin may show finning. The blank faces will NOT be completely flat becuse st the planchets expand they do not reach the collar in all places at the same time. In some places the upper planchet will reach the collar first and in others the lower planchet will. Whichever one gets there first will start being forced (up or down) toward the other one. So the blank faces will have warped surfaces especially around the edge. THEY WILL NOT BE FLAT, and there will definitely not be a sharp defined edge like you see when one side is surface ground flat.
