Odd Marks On Lincoln's Shoulder On A 1946 Wheat Penny

How would o be able to find out if it ts damage or a dropped letter and how would I also find out about the marks by Lincoln's back/shoulder?

With the new pics and acetone test, I was actually leaning toward a struck-through-debris for the obverse. Possibly, a weird lamination peel.

The reverse may just be damage. There is a corresponding mark in the field and it may be too distorted to have actually been a struck-through Grease Fill error.

Overall, without seeing it in person, my verdict is .

First off, to the CCF!

The only way you can be sure if you have an error coin is to have it certified and I don't think that this coin is worth slabbing. Because of the condition of the coin, I don't see it as being much of a collectible. Even if it is a lamination on the obverse, It's not going to bring much if you can sell it. It's just to small of an error and shows too much wear. The reverse doesn't look like a dropped letter to me. Even if it were, it's not one that I would pay for because of the condition of the coin.

It would be different with a mint state red coin. It would be easy to tell if it was an error and would be worth a premium.

I would keep it and show it to an error coin dealer. If you have a coin shop in your area, let them look at the coin. If they don't deal in error coins, try a coin show.

Just my opinion.