1996 Penny(Are my eyes playing tricks on me?)

miamilatin · Dec 27, 2021

Coin roll hunting today and found this 1996 penny with, what looks to me, like a "U" and some other letters that I can`t make out. Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me :dontknow:

Maybe just post mint damage but would like your opinions. Thanks and HH! :hello:

enamel7 · Dec 28, 2021

You're correct, your eyes are deceiving you. Pareidola.

UnderMiner · Dec 29, 2021

At first glance it looks like a double strike but I'm no expert. It may be the word "TRUST" stamped there but I can't tell for sure.

dognose · Dec 29, 2021

It may be a "struck through" coin error type. Where a small piece of foreign material gets onto the blank planchet just prior to being struck which results in a small relief in the struck planchet in a design of the foreign material.

THing4CSA · Dec 29, 2021

Hi My Fellow TH'er Miamilatin
Your coin looks to me as post mint damaged. There is always a possibility that it could be something more but more likely just the wear and tear. The copper plated zinc does tend to do all manner of weirdness as moisture tends to get under the copper plating and do it's own thing. As it is only one Cent your call to keep or spend. ;-)