DATELESS LINCOLN MEMORIAL OFF CENTER STIKE
The other day I was at my coin dealer and he had set aside this coin for me. He knows I like error coins so he grabbed this baby for me. What I have here is an off center struck Lincoln Memorial Cent.
I will call this specimen about a 60% off center strike maybe a bit more. In order to be classified as off center a planchete is fed into the coin press and lands in the collar improperly. Instead of being centered under the dies the planchete is lying partially on the collar. This results in a coin that has only a partial strike of its design.
The coins design must also be struck on both sides of the coin to be a proper off center strike. Here is where I could use some help. I am not a true Lincoln cent collector. As such I am unable to determine the date of my coin, if this is even possible with what I have. I can tell you that my coin weighs in at 3.1 grams. This puts it in the 1982 or earlier camp. Later date Lincoln cents weigh 2.5 grams.
I am wondering if there are any other pick up points on my coin that will zero in on its date. Perhaps some other design feature that Lincoln collectors know about can help me. I was able to buy this coin at a fairly modest price. The higher dollar prices go for coins that exhibit a date. Mine is a very nice coin for the money.
I hope you enjoyed this little blog and learned something. Error collecting can be very rewarding. Please check out the photos and feel free to comment. Thanks.
SOURCES:
CONECA
SULLIVAN NUMISMATICS
VARIETY ERRORS
THE RED BOOK
Comments
Mal_ANA_YN
Level 5
No idea on the possible date. What a cool coin.
Jackson14
Level 4
cool coin! I had one of those once. Id guess that the date could be anywhere from 1969 to 1982 by the looks of the relief.
Speeding Arrow
Level 4
I think it is so cool!
Mike
Level 7
Someone really messed up that coin. That's the mints quality control!. Great coin!!
coinsbygary
Level 5
I'm not sure you can determine the date other than what you have already determined. 1959-1982 is my guess, lol! Regardless, that Lincoln cent is pretty cool.
Longstrider
Level 6
Thanks.
CheerioCoins
Level 5
That is a great error and a great addition to your collection. I don't personally have one but would love to someday. Thanks for sharing!
Longstrider
Level 6
Thanks Cheerio. Thanks to all. It is tough to get a blog read and commented on now a days. We get buried in a day by he-who-must-not be mentioned!
I. R. Bama
Level 5
That's so cool looking!
Long Beard
Level 5
Wow! The error, but also how peculiar that I just saw a silver Roosevelt listed from an EBAY seller I deal with that looks almost identical not an hour ago.
CoinHunter
Level 5
Well, first off, your coin is obviously be from before 1983, and since I've seen a lot of cents, it's looking a bit like a 1981 or 1980--but that's just a guess.
Kepi
Level 6
What a cool error! So nice of your coin dealer to hold onto it for you! I wish I could help as far as guessing the date etc... Good luck! Hopefully someone else will put their two cents in... If there's anyone else here... ; )