Picked this up at work today... I have no idea whether it's an error or post mint damage. Anyone have an opinion?
The reverse is normal on this coin; however, the clad layer appears "squeezed" out along the edge where the depression is.
I can't say how this was done but if it was done at the time of striking the collar would have prevented the center layer from bulging out like that. I think this is post mint damage Just my opinion Richard
You can see the bottoms of the letters down in the groove. So the groove was put in after the coin was struck. Plus the edge is pushed out after the collar applied the reeding. I say post mint damage.
I think this is a partial collar error. At the very least the collar malfunctioned or actually broke. I think the coin was struck this way. Thanks, Bill
This really makes me nervious Bill, but I don't agree with you. I don't see how a partial collar would give the reeding on the extruded edge of the coin. A broken collar might help to explain this but I still have trouble visuallizing how a collar could break radially instead of vertically to create this. Also a partial collar wouldn't explain the depression on the obverse with the lettering down inside of it.
I will have to go with the post mint damage camp... I don't think it was made that way. The edge is interesting but I don't see how a partial collar would create that... the coin appears to have full and complete reeding in the effected area which to me would indicate to me that it was struck in the collar and then was damaged. Not to mention the smashed struck letters on the obverse in the first picture... they were there first as well... no question in my mind that this is post mint.
I would agree with those who've concluded it's some form of post-strike damage. The edge does not show a partial collar because reeding is present on both sides of the "step". The edge also does not show a broken collar. The fact that crushed letters are reportedly present in the depths of the sunken crescent is also consistent with post-strike damage. Finally, the appearance of this coin is unlike any known error and, as far as I can determine, cannot be generated in a coinage press.
I appreciate all of your input, and the positive conclusion that this is post mint damage. Thanks again to all!
Collar error is what it is in my opinion. While striking the coin's actual position must have been displaced.