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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/Lincoln Chronicles error or altered?

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Expert: - 11/18/2009


Question

Liberty striking error
Good day Ronald,

I recently bought the Lincoln coin and Chronicles set second-hand as, unfotunately, i was out of town and unable to place an order on release day.  Of course, I closely inspected the coins and came across a most unusual error.  Unusual for me as I can't quite figure out how it would have happened, so it makes it rather suspect to me.  In the word "liberty" on the obverse of the (I believe the formative years, standing in front of the lincolm memorial?) the top of the I and B are blotted out as if scrap metal got in and the letter "P" is above them imprinted at an angle.  Does look like someone did this or would this be a reasonable minting error?  If it looks altered, I need to return it, but if not, well, I got really lucky.  It would be my first error coin, which, for a young collector are fiscally out of reach.  Thanks.

Michael  

Answer
Hi Michael:

I took your photo and saved it to a file. I then opened your photo and enlarged it to get a better look at what was in the area of "LIBERTY". I believe that what you have is actually a very small piece of plastic, associated with the packaging, that got inside the cent capsule along with the coin. What you see as a "P" also appears to be made of the same material. It does not look like metal to me from the photo. I do not believe it to be an actual letter from anything on the coin. The only "P" that might fit would be if a part of the plating from the reverse of the coin where "E PLUIRBUS UNUM" is broke away and was left on the surface of your coin.

The Chronicals Set was a sell out. I would not try and return it. I do not believe there are available replacement sets. The "oddity" on your set is insignificant, and should not affect the value.

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. And check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThanks, I though that it could just be material stuck in there, but didn't want to break it open to check. Thanks for looking. Michael


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Ronald Fern

Expertise

I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.

Experience

Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently at my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.

Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG

Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News

Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964 BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968

Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.

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