Expert: Ronald Fern - 12/10/2009

Question
QUESTION: Ronald:

I came across this penny in some change, and of course for a collector, I was smitten with glee.  In the middle of Abe there seems to be a deposit of the Lincoln Memorial.  But it's weird because you can still see the outlines of Lincoln's body through the deposit, but you can also still see the detail of the Memorial.  It's strange the how the deposit is almost transparent.  Do you know if this is an error, and perhaps what kind of error this is called?  Also, do you know what its value may be?  Thank you for your time and consideration.

-Jeff

ANSWER: Hi Jeff:

Thanks for your question.

I took your photo and saved it to a file, then enlarged it. It appears your coin is not an error, but rather a coin where someone glued two cents together, and this is the end result of one of the two coins with the glue, and a image of the memorial from the reverse of the other coin remaining.

An interesting curiosity but no extra numismatic value.

Here's some links for you to view different types of real errors and their values.
Links:  
http://www.coinsite.com/html/USErrorPrices.asp
http://www.minterrornews.com/priceguide.html
Also see: http://conecaonline.org/content/OhNo.htm

You may want to check US coin listings under errors on eBay from time to time to see if coins like yours are offered for sale, and what they bring.

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.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ronald:

So this is not a mated pairs error coin with reverse on obverse?  You think this was created outside the minting process then?

Answer
Hi Again Jeff:

No, it is not a mated pair. That definition would imply you have two separate cents that were completely struck together. Two blanks in the die chamber, one struck with obverse, one with reverse, centers on each would have no image. Your coin only has a portion of the reverse showing in the center and it is transparent. This tells me it is glue, not metal. I think whatever was done to your coin was done outside the mint.

Refer to the link I listed: http://conecaonline.org/content/OhNo.htm

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.