So... I have 3 coins of the 1857 Flying Eagle, well two and one 1858, I have one with a blank back to it. I can not seem to locate any info concerning it. I have had the coins measured and weighed, and they are all within the normal specs for this coin. Anyone know anything about the blank?
Yes the back was smoothed down for a love token, you can see where they started engraving it but didn't get too far.
I do not know honestly, my only thought is that it was a blank used for striking but I can not find any info
I truly do not think it was it was ground down, the weights are right on for specifications, and the thickness is also right on, so if they ground it down, would it not be thinner and lighter?
Incorrect.. It's damaged on purpose. Last time.. It's not a mint error. You won't find any info because there isn't any. Trust me.. I have been collecting errors for over 3 decades.
Some coins are sometimes a bit thicker and heavier than normal. So that coin could of been slightly heavier then when it was ground down it adjusted it to it's proper weight. Simple explanation.
You know Paddyman98, I can appreciate the info, but you do not need to come across as condescending...
Really? Condescending? That was never my intention. That sucks buddy. I will never help you again.. Goodbye.
I also agree ... someone ground down one side and started engraving the side but stopped which is defined as a "love token" in the coin minting process a blank disc is "upset" with gives it a rim on both sides. it's a single process that affects both sides. When you see one side of a coin totally flat that means that the rim edge itself was removed which had to have occurred after the minting process because the other side has it. so you have a blank which is just a round disc. Then it's "upsetted" which puts the edge/rim on then it's minted/stamped. no way a coin can have one side with an edge and the other without and edge. as to the weight and thickness. We'd have to know the exact weight of it before it was damaged, which we can't do. But also does your scale go down to .001 accuracy and do you use a micrometer to measure ? Some ppl on here would use a food scale which has no accuracy for coins, and a ruler which also isn't very accurate for this type of measurement - just mentioning that becz we don't know.
What you are imagining is impossible. A working die set consists of the bottom die or reverse of the coin and a top die that is the obverse and a collar that keeps the coin from expanding to much when the coin is struck. Your coin blank is a called a planchet and it is placed on the bottom die (it has to be there) and then squeezed between the top and bottom die creating a freshly minted coin. Thousands of coins are struck from a single die pairing so if there was a blank reverse it would be well known. Get on ebay and research Love Tokens, you will find many, some quite lovely. I know of at least one Coin Talk member who has quite the affinity for them.
