I was sorting some new coins and I noticed that I looks funny, having like 2 peaks top and bottom. Also C next to it looks kind of funny. Is this normal, or could it be a fake coin. It doesnt feel fake. Thanks.
set the loupe up over the coin so the view through it of the I is clear then take a picture through the loupe.
Contemplate what those letters look like on the die. They're negatives - holes. Planchet metal fills those holes to become letters. It stands to reason that there's very little explanation for something which could selectively fill those holes to create this look on a struck coin, especially in two different places on a perfect line. The inevitable conclusion, something you'll come to with experience, is that it's 1000-1 against anything but postmint damage.
Take your camera on you phone, put the loupe right in front of it, move it to the coin until it's a clear shot, and then take the shot.
It's honestly too hard to tell from the photos but I think the M in the same word is an indicator that it's not a mint made error.
Congratulations! You have now successfully identified PMD on this coin. It helps to look at the entire coin as well as the area in question. When you see a coin with this much destruction, scrapes, cuts, abrasions, no steps on this nickel you can only come to one conclusion-Post Mint Damage. Also, if you look closely at the "T, I and C" you can see where the metal was push towards the bottom of the scrape. It appears on all 3 letters on your coin. Easily seen in the photo, more easily visible in hand with your loupe. A good learning experience on this one.
Thank you. I hope I am learning. Please enlarge the last letter in monticello and tell me if it doesnt look wierd!? Thanks @ Collecting Nut
