What caused this?

[AstroRaider]

Here is an example of a 1988D Lincoln Memorial Cent.

It has an anomaly on the IN GOD WE.

Is this caused by die deterioration? Or maybe a mis-aligned die? Is this an error (unique to this coin)?

http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=103037&stc=1

Thanks for any responses...

[GrumpyEd]

You got it right on your first thought.

It's a ridge ring caused by die deterioration.
Yours is a nice example of it and that timeframe has some whoppers.

Check it out in glossary:

http://www.lincolncentforum.com/terminology-list-q-r/#Ridge%20Ring

[jfines69]

Nice ridge ring... There are some that show the ring around the entire coin and both sides!!!