Bought these two pennies today for 2$ From the app let go from some elderly gentleman. Has anyone in the community ever came across something like this?
The punch and die made for these designs were produced by an acquaintance who retired from the Philadelphia Mint. Chris
While I do not know the meaning of the Free Mason symbols, I do know that when it is upside down, there is a distinct meaning in having it that way. You have 2 counter-punched wheat pennies that are considered PMD or Post Mint Damaged. There are people that collect counter stamps and since you paid $2.00 for them, that is probably top value given the circulated condition of the coins.
Just to add...why is my coin EXTRA cool? Nobody would have a reason to ever "mess" with this coin (beyond counterstamping it). It clearly shows real, market acceptable toning. Take note of the colors and progressions. Everything is UNDER the brown patina. Looking straight on with the eye, it appears mostly brown. Start angling the light and the colors come through. Thin film interference at it's finest. This coin also demonstrates the relationship between the of compressing metal and toning. The depressed area on the reverse is mint red. Whatever toning agent the coin was exposed to had a minor toning effect on that area. With Lincolns, I've seen this effect, the softer issues tend to tone and hard, well-struck coins seem more resistant to toning. My theory for Lincolns: Post 60's coining pressures increased over the decades. This has kept billions of decently stored coins in full red state over that period.
