1913 or 15 cent?

[Ronald Ozimek]

There is a lot going on with this coin that makes me suspicious. I look forward to your comments. The details on the front are mushy but I can feel the rim with my finger nail. The back has a half moon defect on the left side of the coin and the rim is flat. Initially I thought it was squeezed in a vice but thought that would flatten both sides. Any possibility of a mint error? Thanks!

[Kloccwork419]

I feel this is corroded. Some type of acid bath.

[MintErrors]

I agree on the acid treatment. if it is heavily pitted it could have been in the ground, but in any event, it was done outside the mint.

As far as the reverse goes, the only semi-circular design like that would be from a incomplete punch when they made the planchet. But more times than not, it is simply a line sunk into the planchet. Both areas on either side of that incomplete punch line of the planchet are of equal height.

I agree this is highly suspect of post mint damage, especially with additional damage on the obverse from Lincoln's ear, southward.

It could easily have been a squeeze job. It depends on what people use to attempt to keep a coin look natural. Some will use leather, others just stack extra coins at the ends and do more at once. Some will go as far as adding a thin piece of sheet metal in between coins to keep the rim from biting into the other side. Anything is possible.

Even if this was a glorified error, and it probably is not, the condition of the coin is so bad that not many would be interested in it.

[Ronald Ozimek]

Thanks for the confirmation. I'm starting a page of interesting post mint damage/ alterations. I will post an entertaining date alteration attempt when the coin resurfaces.