Altered s or real need some help please

I was going through my Lincoln cent collection and it's been awhile but I noticed my 1931s had a now black ring around the S. I have to think this is an alteration. Anyone out there have any experience with altered Lincoln cents?

 

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It looks fine to me.
But if it was a fake done by slicing the mintmark off of another coin, an acetone dip would take it right off.

 

Thanks, I just looked a little funky to me. I appreciate the input.

 

The mintmark looks normal besides all the crud around it.Just like evan said dip it can't hurt its a common circulated wheatie.

 

Scratch the last part was thinking of a different date,mm.

 

Thanks pd 1878.

 

mintmarks were individually punched into working dies. when the punch hit the die metal it would force up a little metal around the mintmark on the die. When coins were struck this would create the look of a little hollow or nest with the MM in the center. very prominent when some dirt gets in there.

 

Looks like a cleaned coin, it's black next to all the edges because it's a hard to reach area and if you want to get it off I would suggest a rose thorn because it is a organic material and will not scratch your coins and I've also used thorns off a paleverde. Never use cleaners, maybe a little soap and water and light cotton swab. Buyers can tell a cleaned coin by seeing the black you are talking about. Hope this was helpful

 

Say what.

 

A there’s a little black in the date too. All normal.

 

Thanks all, it is a cleaned coin and looking at the whole coin, this is the only area that shows the black build up. I guess they didn't do a very good job. Thanks again.

 

He corrected himself right below that post.

 

Thats what I said below,of course under one million were struck.

 

real

 

It is all natural, I would leave it alone, seal it, and show it. Nice coin, thank you for sharing.

 

Wouldn't hurt to view the WHOLE coin.