1999 Lincoln Penny No Mint Mark Possible DDO Or Qdo

Might be beneficial to post a couple sharp images taken at a slight angle of the feature(s) in question--perhaps a shot from the lower right and one from the upper right. Taken at an angle, not vertical. The idea is to get a sense for relief/texture. At this point, I'm seeing a post-strike issue--the coin didn't leave the striking chamber in this condition.

10 4 I'll get some pictures like you mentioned this evening when I get home. Just because I'm curious I have to ask, how are you certain the coin didn't leave the striking post like this? I know it's "dirty",but I can see four T's, on the second T in trust, two I'd and two N's in the word IN, and three L's in liberty. Surely I'm not the only one seeing it?

Reds_brother18...

Looking forward to the new images. Please understand, you have the coin in-hand and can view it from any angle in any lighting. You can use magnification in any way you prefer. All we have are the static images you post. Again, eager to see what new pics you come up with. Thanks.

with above.
In addition - there are finite ways an error occurs on a coin, but infinite ways to damage one. From what I have seen - every damaged coin is a unique damaged coin, never have I seen identical damage done to a coin, but errors are repeatable (such as doubled dies, RPM's and OMM's to name a few. Then there are "die events" such as cracked or broken dies, planchet flaws, annealing issues, laminations and such.
To nail down your particular 'damaged' coin and the source of how the damage occurred, is difficult to say the least. To recognize a coin with 'zinc rot, or a stain is easy, it may not be identical - but similar. And THAT is what we go by in most cases. Sometimes we are wrong but most times we are not - after all we are not paid professionals here and above all else, we do not have the coin in hand to observe what is going on with it. There are a few people here on this site that are paid pros (such as Mike Diamond) that can at time offer their opinion on an coin submitted here, but not always.
If you really think you have something VERY special - you have the option to send it to a TPG and get it evaluated that way - at a very expensive cost, of course.
If you do sent it in, we only ask that you follow-up here with the results so we may all benefit from it.

When the zinc is exposed, the zinc can start rotting. This happens in stages:


You will often notice the gray color on these areas:



This will allow oxygen to get to the zinc and swell on the coin, or eventually allow a hole in the plating. Not a good thing. Spend these before the end process happens. If they are exposed to acid, this accelerates the process. Just a spender coin. If one a variety coin, then it becomes a problem coin.

Avoid these, and look for an example with out the split plating.

CoopHome: What is split plating?

@Reds brother.... If you believe you have something special, feel free to take it into your local coin shop/dealer & get their opinion.

What's a "qdo"?

Good question, I'm curious at to what the OP meant by that. (qdo)