What could cause these letters to be distorted. I cannot find an example to compare or give a name to. Is it pre or post mint? The photo is not the best but hopefully enough for someone to comment on.
im going to have to say post mint because of the way the other letters are squashed. i hope not , cause they look cool. wait for an expert.
Incomplete filling of the letter cavity. This was frequently seen on older coins where the tops of the letters were towards the rim of the coin. Those letter that had a long vertival stroke such as the T's, the I's, the R's and sometimes the A's would show a scalloped area at the base of the upright instead of being flat. This was called bifurcated letters. The reason for it is that as the coin is struck the metal is moving outward away from the center and it fills the outermost portion of the letter first, then down the upright, and fills the base of the letter last. If the strike finished and the dies separated before the base filled you would have bifurcated letters. In the case of this nickel the innermost part of the upright in the top of the T and when it bifurcates it results in the "palm trees".
Thank you so much. I wish I had your knowledge. Probably worthless but it is kinda neat looking. It must be my age, but I would not have considered 1996 old. (ha)
It isn't. It is rather unusual to see it an smaller coins or on moderns but it does occur. Typically it is seen on Capped Bust halves, Early dollars, and early large cents due to the size of the coin and the fact that they were struck by muscle power on screw presses. After the steam presses came along bifurcated letters become much less common.
What a great thread. EbethMay thanx for showing us your coin, and Conder thanx for the great numis info...
