1860 Indian Head - Damage or Mint Error?

[rwkiii]

At first I thought this Indian was damaged after minted, but I'm not so sure. Is this a mint error? What happened?

[CoinHunter]

Interesting coin, hmmmmm..... It looks like it might be a "vice job" (when two coins are clamped together with a vice and screwed down tight, leaving impressions of both coins on each other) I will let mustbebob give you the final answer, but I think that it might be vice job.

[rwkiii]

Interesting coin, hmmmmm..... It looks like it might be a "vice job" (when two coins are clamped together with a vice and screwed down tight, leaving impressions of both coins on each other) I will let mustbebob give you the final answer, but I think that it might be vice job.

It would have needed to be sandwiched between a coin on each side. The obverse and reverse markings are in the same positions. Someone would have had to match the coin positions front and back. I understand what you are saying, but I'm skeptical. Also, I don't see how the "STATES" could have been viced without effecting the Indian head at all. There should be something apparent in the face if it were viced like you suggest.

[rwkiii]

Interesting coin, hmmmmm..... It looks like it might be a "vice job" (when two coins are clamped together with a vice and screwed down tight, leaving impressions of both coins on each other) I will let mustbebob give you the final answer, but I think that it might be vice job.

Also, the pattern that shows is inverted, isn't it? I mean, there's no way to get that pattern from another coin - it's just, backwards, I think. The denticles that appear don't have a rim - they're circular like the necklace around the Indian's neck. If it was viced it would almost have to be with a non-Indian Head. Yet the imprints do resemble those on an Indian Head cent - just backwards.

Yes, it's interesting. It doesn't seem like it could be a mint error, but the imprint from another coin on obverse and reverse in the same position is peculiar also. Hopefully somebody has seen something similar to this before.

[Coindog]

Definitely viced. The edge impression on the obverse are a different coin than on the reverse. Also the impressions are negatives. I believe true die clashes are positive impressions. For these reasons I believe this was manufactured outside of minting.

[mustbebob]

I also agree that this is a vice job.