Error cent? "198L" date on 1981

[ktb615]

Found this cent in a roll hunting today. It's pretty dinged up, but the 1981 looks like 198L and it appears to have come from the mint that way. Has anyone seen this before?

 

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[TypeCoin971793]

Not to be mean or anything, but I think that the "L" was caused by a very well-placed gouge. In the picture, there is some sort of depression under the bar of the L not seen under the rest of the numbers and a blob of metal at the end of it. It could have been mutilated to look like that as well. But the sheer chances of the gouge happening at that spot, at that angle, and the raised metal to be that high would be astronomical if it was by accident. Based on the evidence (the coin being pretty banged up), that would be my answer. I would keep it for the heck of it.

 

[ktb615]

Oh, nice. I see it now that I look closer. Especially when I compare it to all the other gouges on the coin. My eyes just couldn't make it out last night. Thanks for the help.

 

[freddy williams]

looks like a mint error coin. It would be hard to gouge a die perfectly. seeing the coins are stamped and everything is raised. HH and congrats who knows maybe in a few years it will be like all error coins and be valuable. You may want to have it authenticated by a grading company

 

[50cent]

Hard to gouge by accident, easy to gouge on purpose.

I rest my case.

 

[TypeCoin971793]

Hard to gouge by accident, easy to gouge on purpose.

I rest my case.

It could have "accidentally" slipped into a meat grinder or a blender.

 

[enamel7]

looks like a mint error coin. It would be hard to gouge a die perfectly. seeing the coins are stamped and everything is raised. HH and congrats who knows maybe in a few years it will be like all error coins and be valuable. You may want to have it authenticated by a grading company

Not good advice. It isn't a mint error. Everything isn't "raised on a die. In fact, it is the opposite. It would also be easy to gouge the die in this manner. I'm gonna have to say damage on this one. This coin will always be worth 1 cent, unless it gets buried for a few months.
HH
enamel7

 

[CladSmoke]

Good news is that the coin is copper!

 

[50cent]

Good news is that the coin is copper!

That's a pretty deep gouge and the coin's pretty banged up. I bet it's worth face value in coppa weight (1 cent face 1 cent total copper value in weight) . he should just dump it and let someone else find it one day.