I just found this penny and I'm scratching my head to identify the term for this. I went out today and bought The Official Redbook and also U.S Coin Digest. The Digest has great information on all the types of errors and such, including pictures and price ranges for the rarity of the error. I cannot seem to narrow this error down.
Can you post an image of the obverse? It seems like it took a hit, but if the obverse is clean and normal, maybe not.
Can't believe I didn't check that. Guess I got to excited. There does appear to be some damage right on the other side of the revers, just on the rim. The gouge on the reverse, looking through my loupe, doesn't show any change in color or design. It's one smooth flow of toning, etc. I would think if it took a hit, that all areas of the impact area would have a transition point of the damaged area to the regular surface, with noticeable edges. This looks like, pardon the analogy, someone took a hot knife and skimmed the top layer of butter. It's a smooth transition from damaged area to the coins surface, color and all.
I'm going to say it took a hit. With the obverse rim having damage in the same area, that has to be it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if it was an error from the mint, wouldn't the damaged area, the gouge, be facing outwards, like that of a clip?
I was expecting more damage than the obverse shows. It may have been struck through some sort of debris. I'd wait for other opinions, this is certainly not my area of expertise.
