1957-D Wheat Blocked Die?

I'll say I'm not completely sure on this one, but it appears to be damage.

It could also have been in something that protected the reverse, was a pocket piece, and wore the obverse down so much. I really don't know on this one. If it's a mint-caused event, I would like to hear from someone who knows what it is so I can learn from it.

I've seen coins that have been air erased. And by that I mean a small, hand held, sand blaster. They use baking soda and air pressure. On some coins like Morgans, it gives it a lustery appearance, that looks somewhat original. I've seen people try it to "erase" scratches. It creates pitting similar to what I see on this coin. Maybe they were testing it out on this coin. If your not careful you can leave lines like the ones on the face. And it would only effect the one side. I don't recommend it naturally.

Hmmm....I'm seeing some concentric marks on the obverse, and one looks like it could've flattened the 7 in the date. What if this is simply damage from a counting or vending machine, and then it returned circulation for years? Just a thought.

My opinion; because the "L" and the "7" are far more worn/less visible in the respective circumferential path than "God We": weak obv strike, circulation wear, and damage.

Here is my hypothetical. It's damage, (does not have the look of a Dryer Coin, the surface is too pitted) but here's a scenario that fits the picture.

First the obverse was damaged by a counting machine resulting in the concentric lines and the damaged 7.

Then a collector or a kid in a high school science class, not wanting to damage an undamaged coin, used this coin in the typical acid eats cent experiment that was prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s high school science class.

Using an eye dropper, acid was placed on the damaged obverse which caused the pitting and the weakness.

Some of the acid overflowed off the edge of the coin and ran under it a little bit to slightly effect the outer edge of the reverse. (Note that the center of the reverse is still pretty strong, but the edge is a little weaker and crusty.)

I don't see an error here, just an accumulation of damages.

Thanks,
Bill

I would completely agree with Bill except for the reverse part...the coin looks completely normal on the reverse, except for a spot of corrosion.

The pitting on the obverse, though, tells me this didn't come from the mint that way. It's odd for sure...but I highly doubt an error.