Coin Error ???

[Mine Shaft]

Hi TN members i have been going through my pennies looking for error's. I came across this 1986 D and noticed something around the D it starts at the top right and continues around to the bottom left. I did talk to a coin dealer and he mentioned some coin's have little spatter on them but this does not look like spatter. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

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[Emil W]

Appears to be what's commonly called a cud. These are error coins where a piece of the die breaks away leaving a chip in the die. When the coin is struck, metal is forced into the chip in the die resulting in a raised area. It's possible in the case of your coin that the die chipped when the D was stamped into the die. Google cud error coins for examples.

 

[Mine Shaft]

Is there any value for them ?

 

[Emil W]

Assuming it actually is a cud, minor ones like yours are generally worth very little, maybe a few dollars. Larger one or ones with interesting shapes can be worth more.

One sold at Heritage Auctions a couple years ago for a few thousand but it was extremely rare since not only did it have a large cud on the front, it also had the piece of the die that broke off permanently embedder on the the other side, making it unique.

 

[galenrog]

Strictly speaking, a cud is a die break affecting the edge of a coin. What you have appears to be either a die gouge or an internal die break. Could be either, based on the images.

Yes, premiums are to be had with some collectors. How much? Depends what a buyer is willing to pay. Collectors can be a fickle lot.

Time for more coffee.

 

[l.cutler]

I wouldn't rule out plain old zinc corrosion under the copper plating. The bottom of the mintmark is one of the most common spots for split plating which allows corrosion to start. There are a couple other spots of zinc rot on the coin.

 

[Blackfoot58]

There’s some similar issue around the word “we”, also. Appears to be coining.

 

[Mine Shaft]

I see it now blackfoot lol.

 

[galenrog]

I may have jumped the gun on this. If so, you all have my apologies. Looking more closely at the images, it may simply be zinc rot under copper plating. More than one area of the coin, as I now see this this coin, has raised spots. And one spot in particular seems to have visible zinc, which can persuade me to change my opinion.

Thank for pointing this out, moving the images from my phone to a 75 inch screen helped, too.

Additionally, I am reminded of a trick that does not always work. Take a toothpick and press raised area on zinc pennies. If the raised area gives in any way, zinc is oxidizing under the copper. If not, the coin deserves a second look.

Time for more coffee.

 

[Mine Shaft]

Well i pushed on that area and it deflated lol or went flat your correct l.cutler. Thanks you guys.

 

[Emil W]

Good call, l.cutler.

 

[cudamark]

At this point, I don't even consider looking at zinc cents for errors. They're all errors in my book. We should be ashamed for letting our government get away with making such junk.

 

[Mine Shaft]

Your pretty spot on calling these coins Junk.

 

[galenrog]

Which is why many call them Zincolns.