Unknown Date Lincoln Oddity

[ShinyPackRat]

I honestly have no idea what this thing is. My first thought was that it had a very large amount of corrosion damage, maybe from some kind of acid.
Possibly it was struck through grease, or something else strange? The edges of the coin especially make me think that something has been poured on it.

I also have a 1947 wheatie somewhat similar to this, but that one is also different enough it could be something else entirely.

 

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[Swaveab]

That doesn't look like a mint error. It looks to me like somebody sandblasted it.

 

[ArthurEvans]

Maybe check the mass? 3.11 g or 2.5 g? Sandblasting or corrosion would lower the mass, unless oxide were left on the surface. (Doesn't look like the case.) Might suggest what happened? If it weighs too much, affirms your idea about something poured on it. Is the date more legible than in the pic? Drop it to hear the ring. Might be able to tell if it's Zn inside.

 

[ShinyPackRat]

Date looks like 1993 D if I catch the light just right, but I could be wrong.

mass reads on my scale as 2.58g. (empty holder is 2.53g, coin in holder reads 5.11g)
I took the coin out of it's holder just to check the accuracy of that, it reads as 2.51g outside of holder.

 

[ArthurEvans]

That's about right, so no loss of material. Seems like pressing or hitting it would have distorted the rim. Maybe someone heated it? Zn melts at 787 F, Cu at 1984 F. If the Zn melted, the surface could distort, since the Cu layer is so thin... ?

 

[Madmox]

It looks like it floated around a busy parking lot for a while. Or spent time in a rock tumbler

 

[galenrog]

I’ve seen worse. Most likely a parking lot coin.

Time for more coffee.

 

[Swaveab]

I'll go along with a coin in the parking lot or street as that will give it the same look if there long enough. I see the copper plating is chipped off in spots along the rim so this coin was not melted to be this way, but was abused in some fashion. Spend it.

 

[trdking]

It may have spent some time on top of a car battery then has been cleaned

 

[galenrog]

Here is an extreme example of a parking lot coin. It was found in a parking lot less than one year old. Observe the similarities in the pitting. Although the coin above is a nickel, I think it helps reinforce my opinion.

Most of the time, the simplest explanation is correct.

Time for more coffee.

 

[Swaveab]

trdking,
I put a zincoln into battery acid once to see what would happen to it. To my surprise it did not pit very much. It did react to the zinc quite vigorously once it came into contact with it. The end result was a discolored with a cleaned look penny that was much much thinner and most features were still readable.

 

[huntsman53]

That's about right, so no loss of material. Seems like pressing or hitting it would have distorted the rim. Maybe someone heated it? Zn melts at 787 F, Cu at 1984 F. If the Zn melted, the surface could distort, since the Cu layer is so thin... ?

I believe that you are correct on the heating theory!

 

[GA_Boy]

Date looks like 1993 D if I catch the light just right, but I could be wrong.

mass reads on my scale as 2.58g. (empty holder is 2.53g, coin in holder reads 5.11g)
I took the coin out of it's holder just to check the accuracy of that, it reads as 2.51g outside of holder.

I thought 2009 D.
Marvin

 

[GA_Boy]

Date looks like 1993 D if I catch the light just right, but I could be wrong.

mass reads on my scale as 2.58g. (empty holder is 2.53g, coin in holder reads 5.11g)
I took the coin out of it's holder just to check the accuracy of that, it reads as 2.51g outside of holder.

I thought 2009 D. Another look and I think you are correct.
Marvin