Unstruck Regions Of Off Center Coins And Other Oddities

CoinWorld - Both faces of the unstruck portion of this off-center 1965 Lincoln Cent show a clear weave pattern. It seems that a rag was rolled into both sides of the leading edge of the coin metal strip.



When the unstruck portion of an off-center coin displays an abnormal surface texture or topography, it can point to subsurface irregularities, improper planchet preparation, or various external insults.

A particularly dramatic example of an externally generated surface texture is seen here on an off-center 1965 Lincoln Cent. The unstruck portion shows a clear weave pattern on both faces. All evidence indicates that a layer of cloth was rolled into both sides of the cent strip, most likely near the leading edge. A Mint worker was probably protecting his hands from the hot, sharp edge of the strip while guiding the latter into the rollers for its final pass. The rag was probably grabbed by the rollers and dragged into the rolling mill along with the strip. I know of a second, similar example.

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