can anyone tell me why abe lincoln has a spike?

[traderoftreasures]

hello all. I've got this 1920 penny here with some strange marks. Can anyone tell me anything about these marks or are the just some random destruction.... thanks and merry christmas season to all.

 

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[Breezie]

Yes, it looks like random destruction to me; perhaps a flat head screw driver with hammer in hand. Sorry your wheatie was destroyed. Nice find anyway, Breezie

 

[fyrffytr1]

Breezie, I don't mean to contradict you but, it looks like the marks on the obverse line up with those on the reverse. I don't think a screwdriver made them but couldn't say what tool did. They do look like random destruction.

 

[Breezie]

Breezie, I don't mean to contradict you but, it looks like the marks on the obverse line up with those on the reverse. I don't think a screwdriver made them but couldn't say what tool did. They do look like random destruction.

Yeppers! You're right; they do line-up . . .good eye! Breezie

 

[Goodyguy]

Breezie, I don't mean to contradict you but, it looks like the marks on the obverse line up with those on the reverse. I don't think a screwdriver made them but couldn't say what tool did. They do look like random destruction.

Look closer.
They line up but offset just a little from side to side, not on top of each other.

Appears the marks were made by a broken set of diagonal cutting pliers that the jaws didn't line up evenly and the tips were broken off.
That could explain why the marks are wider in front and taper thinner toward the back.

GG~

 

[Rasputin]

Looks like someone tried to use tin snips on it.

 

[onecent]

It sure is post mint damage. My first thought was that they were made with tin snips too.
Merry Christmas!

 

[traderoftreasures]

It sure is post mint damage. My first thought was that they were made with tin snips too.
Merry Christmas!

merry Christmas and welcome to the t'net

 

[Roland58]

If they had been created with tin snips the indentations would have been deeper at the edge of the coin, not toward the middle. I'm going with a pair of dikes that had been worn toward the middle of the cutting surfaces, rendering a deeper impression at the end.

 

[creskol]

I'm going with a pair of dikes that had been worn toward the middle..

Ouch .. That sounds like a dangerous adventure!

 

[traderoftreasures]

if it was dikes or "lineman pliers" wouldn't there be some plier marks at the end of the cut?

 

[Roland58]

The old cut the penny in half trick.

Been there....done that

​

Ahh, I see someone worked for the phone factory! I have a few pair of those laying around! Once again, if snips were used the cuts would be deeper at the edge of the coin, NOT toward the center. Aside from the "dike (dyke)" jokes, "lineman" pliers and "dikes" are different animals. Lineman pliers have cutting edges on the first portion from the hinge and then serrated grips at the end. "Dikes" or "side cutters" have only cutting edges from the hinge point to the end. "Snips" are just heavy duty scissors with a couple of notches on the outside edge of one blade for wire stripping......as seen in the photo provided by SWR

 

[Goodyguy]

Easy to test and only costs one cent.

 

[traderoftreasures]

when you look at the snip marks you can see a light colored spot next to it from the offcet indention whatever tool they used it was a crooked one.

 

[Roland58]

when you look at the snip marks you can see a light colored spot next to it from the offcet indention whatever tool they used it was a crooked one.

Can't argue with that!!