Found this 1942 Wheat while searching around a new antique shop today. For $.50, I figure it's worth checking out. I assume that the reverse is just worn away, but I see absolutely no trace of a design having existed and the obverse is not extremely worn. The thickness of the coin is right, but I don't have a scale to weigh it to less than the nearest gram. If such an error exists, and someone thinks it's worth my time, I'll run into a jeweler's and have it weighed. I just wanted to see what you guys thought. After searching around a bit, I'm wondering now if this might be what they call a uniface strike. I wish I could edit the topic title to be more specific....
I've seen ones like that at coin shows and they sell for about $5. I have no idea what causes that either. Have to check with Chuck, the Cent expert on coppercoins.com
Since there is no sign of a rim on the blank side I would be inclined to think the coin had been tampered with.
It does not look like a genuine error. It appears the reverse face was ground off. If this was a uniface strike you'd see finning of the obverse rim, an undulating topography on the reverse face and very likely faint ghost images of the obverse and reverse design.
I am inclined to agree with you that it is not genuine, but could you explain a bit on the points you mention? "Finning" and "undulating topography"... While I don't feel it's genuine, I am going to have it weighed just to know on that point alone... I'm just waiting for the moment as I'm also looking to get a 2006 Colorado Quarter with what appears to be missing reverse cladding from a teller at one of my banks... if I can just catch her when she's there. I'll get them both weighed at the same time. If you chance to check back in here, I have also come across a 1955-S cent with a filled 5. I can post a scan if it helps, but are they common, and is it worth holding... or more likely selling as I prefer Indian Heads and older silver?
And of course, thank you all for the input. You guys have taught me a great deal in the time I've been here... not just through my own questions, but the help that you provide others, as well.
<<I am inclined to agree with you that it is not genuine, but could you explain a bit on the points you mention? "Finning" and "undulating topography"... >> Finning is the presence of a thin, sharp flange extending vertically from the rim/edge junction. It occurs when coin metal squeezes into the thin gap between die neck and collar. It is a sign of increased effective striking pressure, which results from two stacked planchets. The undulating topography refers to a surface which is something other than flat or smoothly convex. The coin shows broad, subtle dips and rises. <<While I don't feel it's genuine, I am going to have it weighed just to know on that point alone... I'm just waiting for the moment as I'm also looking to get a 2006 Colorado Quarter with what appears to be missing reverse cladding from a teller at one of my banks... if I can just catch her when she's there. I'll get them both weighed at the same time.>> If genuine, the quarter should weigh around 4.7 grams. <<If you chance to check back in here, I have also come across a 1955-S cent with a filled 5. I can post a scan if it helps, but are they common, and is it worth holding... or more likely selling as I prefer Indian Heads and older silver?>> I assume you are referring to a solid plug of metal. This would be a die chip, and they're very common.
