What does one call a coin like this? A PMD? It's a Freemason symbol which appears to have been struck on both sides. Very unique. Today I pulled it out of a Penny coin tube which I filled about 56 years ago before I knew much about coins. Any thoughts?
Not struck that way at all. The cent was minted at the Philadelphia Mint in 1948. Judging by the coin itself, it was pulled from circulation shortly thereafter and the counter stamp was applied. The counter stamp is damage to the coin but there are numerous collectors of coins that have been counter-stamped.
It's in great shape to be as old as it is. I could see a collector of these really wanting it. Most of the ones I have seen have been in much lowed grades.
Very nice coin. I would be pleased to have an example like that in my collection. Its a bit different on the reverse side than most I have seen. These embossed coins are fairly common and come in quite a few varieties.
It's a bit more elaborate than a counterstamp. It's more along the lines of repoussè. Not as pushed out but it's pushed out from the back and then formed. I think both sides are done at the same time the back side pushes metal up and on the front side it forces it back down like a mold to leave the impression. I have an old hole punch tool that works like that with an Allan key on sheet metal you drill a hole and sandwich the sheet metal between the two dies and screw it down the bottom and top cut at the same time and punch out a circle without bending the sheet and leaves clean edges. It must be something along the lines of this device...Maybe a clamp and vise to do it. The G is for geometry in the center of the measuring tools, compass and 90 angle square ruler. This is one of the nicer ones I've seen.
