Does anybody else see what looks to me like an overstrike? I took a chance on this because it's eerily similar to the NC-2 which was overstruck on a Talbot, Allum and Lee token.
Yes, it helps, no I'm not seeing it. If it's there, at this level of wear, it will be hard to prove. There is a photographic technique used in archeology where a series of photos with light at specific angles around a half dome is used to mathematically model the surface. I don't remember the name, however.
I appreciate your taking the time to look. Let me know if you recall the name of the technique. I'm certain to take it to a jeweler and check the weight. Talbot Allum and Lee tokens were underweight compared to the Cent, even with it's variations. Anything under 150 grains would indicate a non standard blank. Standard of 168 grains even with a margin of error of 10% before wear is 152 grains. I suspect it to be well below 150 if a TAL token which were produced on 152 and 140 grain blanks and below that due to wear. I'm also hoping to see evidence of the edge marking from the TAL token.
RTI or PTM Start: http://www.jcms-journal.com/articles/10.5334/jcms.1021201 Also google search for "ptm photographic techniques" which will take you to several papers and writeups including culturalheritage.org that has some good links.
I received the coin this evening and while well worn, I believe it is struck on the TAL token, but not the ONE CENT one. I think it's the NEW YORK AT THE STORE OF TALBOT ALLUM AND LEE one. I'll have to wait to get the weight when the jewelry store is open. I think I see the EW YORK AT THE S portion, but it's definitely not easy to see.
Weighed in at 9.7 grams or 149.7 grains. Highest probability is a coin struck on the 152 grain TAL token.
Have you put it under a microscope yet? Would be cool if it were struck on a TAL token, but all I can see is a 5 and a silhouette of lady Liberty.
At this point, I have looked under light with a magnifying glass and have to hold it just so to see what looks like the lettering. But it's not obvious. The reverse is even more confusing with hints of leaves where they shouldn't be as if struck repeatedly. Even what looks like another 5 from the obverse. But I can't get any photo to show what I'm seeing. My best guess is that the obverse is from S-78. The NC-2 was struck on TAL tokens, but obverse over obverse where this appears to be obverse over reverse.
This is the best image I can produce using a closeup at liberty's eye and a rotated TAL. I had thought I was seeing an N or M, but I believe it is the K I was seeing.
