June 13, 2011
This is the home of the most offensive coin I have ever seen! Nevertheless for some reason I cannot stop looking it, and the ugly wicked little thing could become one of the most controversial coins of all times.
Don’t be fooled at first glance like it did me; I almost tossed it in with the copper pennies as damaged by acid rinse or spooning. Perhaps you have seen something like this and you could enlighten us how it is possible that the mint can make such an error.
It came out of a handful of coins that have been lying around for decades in the back of my mother’s closet until it came into my possession. And for the life of me I cannot figure out what category it should fit into, except as a major mint error.
So with that thought in mind take a close look at it, and I believe it will have you saying “Holy Copper Monstrosities, one of a kind, crapper of a coin from the mint”.
It truly is an ugly wicked little thing in my book! It weighs 2.8grams (not 2.5 or 3.1) and at first glance, it appears that someone has taken a metal file to it and deformed the heck out of it. It is very thin on one edge, and it has no rim except on the obverse near liberty.
At second glance acid rinse and spooning comes to mind, except this cannot be possible due to the fact, the lettering even on the thin areas extends or trails to the edge. In addition, you can see Lincoln’s head in the memorial, although the initial FG is missing.
Unfortunately, you cannot read the whole date even though I know it has to be a few decades old because it is copper, and must be one of the rarest mint errors ever found or at least one of the world’s greatest mint errors!
Update July 13, 2011
FYI, when a cent planchet is made prior to the upsetting machine it is call a blank and will have a rough and perhaps a sharp edge with a grainy look and no rim. It will be slightly larger in diameter before the upsetting process allowing a rim to be created to equal the preferred dimensions and weight of the coins blank planchet. (Currently to my knowledge, the cent is the only blank/planchet made by a third party vendor.)
I have determined that the planchet was defective prior to the mint, perhaps at the time of punching out the blank, known as the blanking process. It also suggests that the punch out die may have failed and broke during the blanking process. Similar to what happens at the mint when a die breaks and leaves a cud in its place, although in this case having the opposite affect.
Other possibility where the defect may have occurred is during the annealing, washing or drying process. The annealing process is where the blanks are heated in an annealing furnace to soften them up. After the annealing process the blanks are placed in industrial washer machines and dryers, “YES, industrial washing machines and dryers.”
From there, the blanks are then placed into revolving tubs or barrels filled with an acidic pickling agent. Then next the blanks are sorted through a “riddler,” purportedly weeding out the misshaped and odd sizes.
After that, the blanks are transferred to the upsetting mill. This process raises a rim around their edge creating a blank cent planchet ready for the mint presses.
Moreover, since this coin is not diametrically round, the only point a rim could be raised is at it widest points. This would also suggest or stand to reason there should be a rim at the opposite side across from liberty. This would stand true if both sides are of equal strength.
It is possible that the planchet/blank partially or fully split during this process, whatever, be as it may, the weaker side gave way first releasing the pressure allowing the blank to roll with minimal pressure through the rest of the process into the collection bag where it was sealed in with the other blank planchets.
Sensually the only error the mint made was feeding the deformed planchet through the normal minting process and not catching it during all the inspecting and sorting, from point (a) to point (b). Normally point (b) is to fill and seal a large bag with the finished coins. The only time these processes are interrupted is for mint sets.
Furthermore, no matter how hard I try to prove this coin suffered major post damage, I can see no other way around it. Simply said is not possible to have that much post damage without destroying other characteristics of the coin.
As a result, should it be considered a mint error?
At http://www.lincolncentresource.com/Errors/Defective_Planchet.html suggest that a coin being struck on a defective planchet is a mint error, whether it be a clip, split, incomplete or a lamination defect, so consequently when you come right down to it, this should stand true for “The Monstrosity”.
The fact remains this coin is real, and the only post damage it has suffered, is the five contact marks on the reverse; located on the four pillars on the right and one on the steps to the memorial, on the obverse would be on Lincolns face. There are no other contact marks or indications of post damage.
In time the truth will be revealed how this coin came into my possession a second time.
Anyhow, as of now I would like to thank all the people whom contributed through private emails. Without your leads, constructive input, and the willingness to share your knowledge whether you agree or disagree with my assessment, your kindness is appreciated, for this I thank you! And if you’re ever in the neighborhood and would like to check out this beast, please feel free to contact me. I have everything you will need here with no restrictions. This includes taking your own pictures, in addition, to anything, you wish to write or say about it.
Note:
If you see something you would like up for bid, please let me know and I may consider posting it. However, as of now “The Monstrosity” one of a kind, crapper of a coin, yes that ugly wicked little thing you see here will not be offered.
Due to the fact most numismatists are slow to embrace this creature, or perhaps unwilling or unable to give a logical explanation on how this creature was formed because it defies all what they have grown accustom too.
There was one coin I was reading up on, and it took the specialist 10-years to come to a conclusion, and that is only after much debt.
‘Opinions Please’
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