1990-P Planchet error ?

[931louis]

Is this a planchet error, The grooves thru the lower bust are the deepest and go deeper then the feild and still have the copper plating. Theres no zinc showing thru any of the grooves.

[diamond]

Puzzling. If it was pre-strike damage or any kind of planchet defect, I'd expect it to continue onto the design rim. Not only that, but it should be strongest on the design rim, since the effective striking pressure is lowest here. But the grooves stop at the design rim. The letters IN G seem to be severely affected. If this was a planchet defect or pre-strike damage, I would have expected them to strike up better. On the other hand, the grooves on the face seem to be pre-strike as they continue uninterrupted across Lincoln's face. If it was post-strike damage, you'd expect the grooves to be strongest over the high spots.

I've not seen an effect like this before. My hunch is that it is a genuine error. I'd be happy to take a closer look at it for you.

[931louis]

Thanks Mike
Let me know were to send it and ill get it in the mail.
Louis

[diamond]

Contact me at mdia1@aol.com and I'll give you my home address.

[coin-crazy]

Looks interesting, something I'd find and post..I hope it turns out to be a good error..Nice find by the way!!!

[diamond]

It's a genuine planchet error. I've never seen this kind of defect/damage before. I can't fathom why it doesn't continue onto the design rim. But all other evidence is consistent with a genuine error.

All I can think of is that the zinc strip or a zinc cent blank was deeply scratched, and the upsetting process smoothed out the scratches along the perimeter. However, this would primarily smooth the edge and not the apex of the proto-rim. But it's the best I can do to explain this pattern. It's clear that the copper plating was applied after the planchet was damaged.

[931louis]

Thanks Mike for looking at this coin for me and confirming that it is a planchet error, thats what I was hoping to hear.