Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 3/26/2008

Question
I have a 1981 penny with a front and back with the Lincoln
memorial stamped on the front also. The memorial is precise with the one on the back.  The front is indented where the back protrudes.  Is this a fake?  Lisam

Answer
Lisa, it's impossible to tell without seeing the coin. Sometimes there are impressions of the other side that are fainter than the regular impressions, where the dies "clash."  Go to www.ebay.com and do a search for clashed dies and several items will come up and you'll see how light the clashing is and also get an idea of value by the prices being asked and offered.  More likely (and especially if the impression of the other side is strong) is that someone after minting took another piece and made a hammer impression (imagine putting another cent on top of a piece and hammering the detail from that cent into the piece underneath).  But again, an expert would have to look at your piece to tell for sure, Jim Lawniczak