1895 No Mint Mark, Opinions Please

I handled a coin just like this back around 1997. It was in the possession of an eccentric dealer from Williamsport ,Pa. After being given permission by him to examine the coin with high power magnification, it was determined to have an altered date. The final date digit of a Philadelphia strike from another year(most likely 1890) had been expertly replaced with a 5 of the proper font. No official Mint documents exist to confirm the striking of 1895 dated circulation coins, and none have ever been authenticated. The coin I handled was inspected also by Michael Faraone (ANACS at the time)and David Lange(NGC)at the 1997 ANA Convention. They concurred that it was an altered date.