Misplaced D mint mark on lincoln cent?!

[omnimathemagicaleyez]

Welcome to LCR!

Next, if this is a brand new penny, fresh from a roll, there are a couple of reasons it could happen. The best reason is what is called a 'dropped letter'. This occurs when a device (usually letters) on a coin becomes dislodged because it was weakened by some action during striking. The loose device then drops off and is positioned so when the dies strike the next coin it will leave what is usually a positive impression of that letter. This type of anomaly is quite rare because the dislodged device usually is destroyed by the second strike and will fall away.

The other reason it can happen is by simple contact from another coin and not necessarily the same denomination of coin. You can usually see contact marks of some sort on circulated and uncirculated coins. Sometimes these contact marks are caused by someone doing experiments with coins and a vise.

Here are three of the four attributed dropped letters that I have found during roll searching. Many of us have found odd markings on coins that have yet to be explained.

There is yet another reason you might find letters on Lincoln. A new variety called 'mad die clashes' has recently found a new niche in collecting. If you go to http://maddieclashes.com/ you can see many examples.

I hope this helps.
Jean

Jean, It was not what I thought it was! Not a D on Lincoln. Under Magification it looks like an exploded O or a volcano crater with a hole underneath and part of the rim(of the volcano) missing... Some kind of lamination error?? Omni

[Roller]

It is a deflated gas bubble.

[jcuve]

Welcome to the forum!

[DoubleYou]

Welcome to the forum!

[simonm]

It is a deflated gas bubble.

Gas bubble on a 1958? Seems a little unlikely to me....

[omnimathemagicaleyez]

Is this type of thing common?

[omnimathemagicaleyez]

It is not a 1958. More like 1988....Is this type of occurence common on the post 82 composition change pennies?

[mustbebob]

Very common on post 1982 cents. The copper plating will not always adhere to the zinc core properly, causing plating blisters. Once the copper plating has been broken through, very little can be done to stop corrosion of the core.

[RWBILLER]

Jean
I never found or seen one up close!
Roger

[lineop3]

Welcome aboard!

Aisha

[mikediamond]

Attributed or not, one should always be suspicious of purported dropped letters restricted to the areas of highest relief. These are exactly the areas that are most likely to receive a letter or number impression from another coin. Any dropped letter that fades out as it runs off the area of highest relief is almost certainly an example of post-strike damage. That seems to be the case with your first two photos.

Welcome to LCR!

Next, if this is a brand new penny, fresh from a roll, there are a couple of reasons it could happen. The best reason is what is called a 'dropped letter'. This occurs when a device (usually letters) on a coin becomes dislodged because it was weakened by some action during striking. The loose device then drops off and is positioned so when the dies strike the next coin it will leave what is usually a positive impression of that letter. This type of anomaly is quite rare because the dislodged device usually is destroyed by the second strike and will fall away.

The other reason it can happen is by simple contact from another coin and not necessarily the same denomination of coin. You can usually see contact marks of some sort on circulated and uncirculated coins. Sometimes these contact marks are caused by someone doing experiments with coins and a vise.

Here are three of the four attributed dropped letters that I have found during roll searching. Many of us have found odd markings on coins that have yet to be explained.

There is yet another reason you might find letters on Lincoln. A new variety called 'mad die clashes' has recently found a new niche in collecting. If you go to http://maddieclashes.com/ you can see many examples.

I hope this helps.
Jean