Please Help With Indian Head Error

i say $10- $20 on ebay. get this slabbed as a problem free mint error, listed on a real auction site and it could go to $100.

You asked for experts. More than one have already posted. Like Conder. If Conder disagrees with me, he's usually right and I'm wrong. And I see what he's seeing.

Be sure you come back if you get it slabbed by a major service as a mint error (not just a damaged coin) and I will happily eat crow.

I keep coming back to the "Weight" of this coin. All Indian cents that are bronze weigh in at 3.11 grams. You state that it's 3.34 That is so far over normal I wonder if your scale is right. At 3.34 plus what you are thinking as "missing metal" the plancet would be a partial collar due to its thickness above nominal tolerances.

I have this coin as Post Mint Damage, the obv. shows displacement from a strike from the Rev that was not a die.
You can have a lamination error where the lamination fell off post striking see the photo below. My biggest issue whit this coin is the weight, if a piece of metal that large fell off and it currently scales at 3.34 that would bring the est. weight pre-strike at 3.6 to 3.9 grams. A gram over scale or even 1/2 a gram is huge, to the point I have never heard of one.

MISSING LAMINATION "POST STRIKE" 1896 Weight 2.51 grams

My scales should be fine, however I will gladly try it on another. But I put paper cash and nickels on there as well and they read fine.... I'm starting to be concerned that this is a fake coin? Cause I agree with the weight issue. But I will upload new pics tonight after work and find another scale. I can not thank you all enough that your willing to work so hard with me to really answer this.. And finely, I will be sending it to PCGS to be graded slabbed and error checked. If you look at all the pictures I can't see how it would be a fake, nor are there any signs of PMD IMHO, Plus there are (possible) die cracks on the reverse in the area in question that are risen still.....

As a PCGS Dealer I would tell you to hold off sending this in. For that matter any solid ANA or CCF Dealer or Collector, or Member would tell you the same. If this is a damaged or detailed coin ie: cleaned, dented rim and so on. The cost to have it graded and identified can supersede it's retail value. Error attribution is $ 55.00 plus the sheet fee, as of Jan 1 it is 10.00 plus 20.00 or so return shipping....And you still have to ship it to them. All told it could cost 90 to 95 bucks, so I would suggest getting more facts first.

Remember that if this coin has a lamination or any other type error you have to send it in for "error attribution" PCGS and NGC will body bad a coin as damaged for a lamination unless its sent in for "Error designation" 98% of the time.

I personally feel that this is a damaged coin. Until higher quality pictures are posted, I think the experts will not be able to see whats really going on. While it might be an error of some kind, by the posted pics, I lean toward damaged.

One last note.....Looking at the position of the date compared to the S-14 "Scarface" variety, I would have to say that this is not the variety. It could be a RPD, but we would need much better pictures.

With that being said, the coin is peculiar and interesting. You will find that there are a number of Indian Head enthusiasts here willing to help you with determining what you have. We all learn from helping each other, so thanks for getting this discussion going.