Despite being rather homely in comparison to my other performers this FREAK is truly the star of my band of misfits.� So to borrow a quote from many a ring master I did save the best for last.� So you may want to ask what gives as this appears to be a merely a weakly struck Roosevelt dime.� I mean you can barely read the all-important date, which is probably why it appears in parentheses on the label.� In addition to the date and motto IN GOD WE TRUST being blurred on obverse most of the United States of America on reverse is radiating off of the planchet reminiscent of Roman Denarii. ��I find it is the reverse with the rim below the word DIME that is totally absent above the word STATES, actually half of the characters making up that word are absent too that give the best clue being the planchet not the correct size.� That is the first clue as to how truly unique my FIEND is, which I will endeavor to explain below.� The second which would be better appreciate in one of the newer NGC holders is that there is no copper core to be seen along the edge of this FREAK.� It is not a case of it being missing as this planchet was never intended for a US denomination. This planchet was meant for Philippine one sentimo that was being produced during the same time period by the Philadelphia mint.� So not only is it a dime struck on the wrong planchet, a rarity in its own right, but it is struck in aluminum which has never been used for US coinage with the exception of pattern or trial pieces.� Jumping the tracks a bit one of the most spectacular of these patterns I have personally seen is the 1868 aluminum pieces owned by one of the former members in my former coin club. There is more recent and equally infamous 1974 aluminum cent struck in 1973 with samples given to congress that were not all returned, which I have not seen in person.

I decided today to let my Washington team take a break to allow you the chance to gaze upon a FIEND that will have you seeing double.� Yes this does not just have one 1968, but two and likewise it has double D’s indicating its branch mint origin.� This little fellow somehow after receiving the first strike shifted to the right in addition to turning a little more than ninety degrees all while another planchet slipped into the coining chamber below it. Then, WHAM!� The dies came down leaving a clear impression for the year of issue and the mint it was issued from along with some whiskers and clothing in place of the base of the bust as the designer had intended.� Now due to a planchet being in the chamber below the obverse parts of the motto E PLURBUS UNUM and all of STATES are distorted on my FIEND.� It reminiscent of the images I could create with silly putty, the latest Sunday Funnies, and a little free time.� All of that said I would like to think somewhere out there, beneath the pale moonlight, is a dateless Lincoln cent with a partial brockage STATES.� Granted having no date this oddity, as I imagine it, would never show up in my searches. Though who knows this imagined piece may have also shifted to the right turning a little more than ninety degrees to be hammered once again this time being date stamped to be something truly exceptional. This being said it would have not been a double date despite being double struck.� Of course that takes more supposition than I can infer from the evidence my little doubled dated Lincoln can offer us.

I find myself today pondering another season of FREAK SHOW 1968 and frankly I am not quite finding myself in the spirit.� Not to say it has not been a good year for finding new members to join my crew of FREAKS.� Though many were the rarest of oddities found in the guise of Proof, and attributed more often than not to the house of Weinberg.� I did throw my hand up on a few of these though sadly they were destine to reside with larger groups that my little menagerie.� Lamenting those that got away is easy as I have no proof oddities at the moment so no need to pursue more.� If you do not understand my last statement I will just refer you to an excellent book on this, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.� Yes it is a children’s book, but I believe it taps into the inner MONSTER in most of us bitten by the collecting bug.� I have to say biggest reason for my lack of enthusiasm is it has just been plain hot this summer in Texas. Yes I know I live in Texas so stop your whining kid for, THE SHOW MUST GO ON!�

This year several of my new acts feature the bust of an architect who also holds the honor of being the Third President of our Nation.

Well kind of like me this week with my blog this member of my freakish cast almost did not make the cut.