Very Strange "Error" Cent On Ebay

The letters in the word LIBERTY are incuse and so is Lincoln's tie. It's pressed into the last 2 digits of the year 2000. I don't know of any way to get this sharp and clear of an impression LIBERTY unless it was tooled into the face of Lincoln.

Another "error" on the coin is the word TRUST. It shows heavy separation and what would look like a double strike but the seller makes no reference to this.

I used Photoshop to do an overlay of the coin's image using the word LIBERTY as a reference point. The word clearly shows that the 2nd LIBERTY is incuse. Most of the ghost image of Lincoln lines up with the overlay. Lincoln's tie caused the incuse dent in the last 2 digits of 2000, but the image of Lincoln's ear does not line up correctly. The ghost image ear is too far away from the Y in LIBERTY and is not quite the same shape as the ear from the overlay.

The fact that the rims show no sign of damage seems strange, but the only photos that the seller provides are photos of the obverse. This makes me wonder if a photo of the reverse would shows signs of damage from work done on the obverse.

Just my observations and I could be totally wrong, but I can't see this error happening in the minting process.

Ben

Or an impression by a reverse-reading LIBERTY--in relief? Is that possible at the Mint?

^ Could not have said it better.

I wouldn't even consider it unless it was slabbed PCGS or NGC. For that price it should at least be that or more with error authentication.

Hmm...how does the incuse LIBERTY happen? When the die cap shifts and those letters are thicker, so they get indented into the coin?

Thanks Mike. When I viewed this coin all I saw was the mark across the center of the coin. Now looking back I can now see the LIBERTY and the shoulder.

ErrorCoins222..you where right and thanks for the link. I've read it before but totally forgot, thats the second time this has happened to me in the past couple weeks. I'm trying to cram to much info in the short time I been studying errors.
And thats one of my favorite websites for errors, double . Oh well either way I've learned a good lesson.
And thanks to Mike for confirming it also.
I still would have been a bit leary of a new seller with a rare error and no returns at $1000 or better.

Wow! I love what I learn on CCF! Thanks for the information ErrorCoins222 and mikediamond! I was sure this was a fake, but as I said, I could have been (and was) totally wrong!

Thanks for the details and link!

It's a great error that I never had seen before!

THANKS!
Ben