Expert: PAPAJACK - 6/26/2008

Question
I just emailed a question about the penny with the lines from Lincoln's mouth. I just wanted to clarify that I am an archaeologist, not a collector. Value is not an issue, I just wondered whether you had ever seen anything similar before. Thanks!

Answer
Hello again Dene,                        

Thank you for the return response.        
As I said I would think a Megaphone has been reported by others to me.
Such as the ones used by cheerleaders in the days prior to electricity. Depending on where you are digging (old Football stadium or similar) it up it may have some significant.

I do not remember hearing about any political statements being made with Lincoln Speaking as some other altered coins and patriotic tokens. Since it was the second year of issue for the Lincoln cent it was a very common coin.

There was allegedly a big to-do about having the designers initials removed from the reverse of the coin. In 1909 The Initials V.D.B. appeared on the bottom of the reverse and was removed by the mint. But I do not think the general public cared as it was reported, just the director of the mint.

Good Luck



Originial answer :
______________________
Hello Dene,                                 

I have not seen your particular coin but I can tell you the mint did not produce the coin this way.
I have see Lincoln smoking a pipe, initials the shape of the united States and even the outline of each state and various other imprints in the coin A megaphone would not surprise me at all.
There is such a nice blank field in front of his face most alterations are placed there.
These altered coins are not worth more to Lincoln Cent collectors and are only novelty items selling for a dollar or less.

I hope this information helps.

Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack