Hi, i'm fairly new to looking for error coins so i'd like to distinguish the errors from just plain wear. This penny I found looks to me as if the O in "of" is gone and now reads "United States F America". It's a 1994-D and I'd like to know if this is obviously just wear or some type of error with grease or dust during the minting process. Here's a pic, thx. http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u186/sandrock86/CIMG0756.jpg
It could be wear but i think it is struck through grease. Not worth much, although you can find a bunch on ebay.
ah thx i have another penny that has the "of" faintly lettered, do you think that would be wear or a weak strike type thing too?
Without seeing a picture, all i can say is that it's a strong possibility. Interesting but not necessarily valuable.
Yes, it looks like it could have been struck through grease (mint debris). It is difficult to see in the photo (so I enlarged it). You should look at the other side of the coin. Look for any evidence that the coin took a hit opposite the missing "o". If you see any evidence on the opposite side, then it is most likely post mint damage. There is something triangular going on with the left leg of the letter "A" in America. Check to see if that is a contact mark or perhaps the A was struck over an underlying defect. It may be possible that this is left over from a lamination defect in the planchet which left not enough metal to fill the area including the adjacent letter "o".
ok so maybe these will be better first the front http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u186/sandrock86/CIMG0794.jpg and reverse http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u186/sandrock86/CIMG0801.jpg in this pic i can see the triangle on the "A" which is formed by a line almost touching the "F" ... odd but i have no idea what this means lol
