1982 Cu LMC Large 2 Variety

Odd counterstamps on Lincoln cetns like that one typically sell for $5 or so.

A countermark/counterstamp always happens post-mint so it is essentially damage and not an error at all. Someone was playing around with a die punch "2" and just stamped in into the cent- only the person that did the deed could tell you why. Other countermarks have a more obvious purpose. In the 70s and 80s, marketers sold sets of 50 countermarked Lincolns, all with a small impression of a state. Other Lincolns have a bust of Kennedy facing Lincoln or even Lincoln smoking a pipe.

In the 1800s, countermarks were frequently used on large cents as a form of advertising- a business name or initial would be stamped right onto the coin, think of it as an old business card. Most of this type of countermark are actually quite collectible and it does not devalue the coin like a modern unknown countermark. A few of the more rare marks actually increase the value of the original coin.

Here is one of them:

Nice Coin!


Here are three that I found in circulation.

2 States (New Jersey & Kansas) and after a nice discussion on this forum awhile ago, the last one is maybe the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Image:
NewJerseyJpeg1.jpg
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Image: Kansasjpeg1.jpg
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Image: 1975LMCAlteredObvjpeg1.jpg
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