Electrotype LC?

I would expect an 1821 LC electro to look a lot better than that. Typically you are not going to be able to visually identify an electrotype from a photo. Normally an electro is made from a nice or high grade coin unless you are dealing with a very rare coin that just isn't available nice. The coin is pressed into a casting medium, typically wax because it creates a very precise impression, and the impression is made conductive with a layer of graphite dust and it is then electroplated with copper to build up a thin shell. A shell is made of either side, the shells are filled with lead and the two shells joined together. Sometimes the seam on the edge is dressed up a bit and electroplated as well. A really good quality electro can reproduce the surfaces so well that the electros of the 1840 to 49 Half Cents even reproduce the mirrored surfaces. Here are a couple of pictures of electroypes, a Birch cent, a 1796 Half Cent, and 1793 Ameri. chain cent.