Large Cent Mint Error?

[Mudflap333]

About a year ago I purchased a number of large cent, 2 cent and three cent coins from an online auction ( www.liveauctioneers.com/item/8466640 ). In the set was one large cent that looks to be struck on maybe a half cent or two cent flan. The coin weighs about 6.42g but a half cent in 1852 weighs 5.44g and a two cent is about 6g. I'm at a loss understanding what is going on with this coin. I have done some online research and found one other occasion of a large cent struck on a half cent flan ( http://www.ha.com/heritage-auctions-...releaseId=1547 ) but this one had a weight of 4.69, a whole two grams less then the one I have. Has anyone ever come across anything like this or heard of this, real or fake?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[coinguy*matthew]

IMHO its PMD probably ground down.....

 

[l.cutler]

Just cut down, too heavy for a half cent, and two cent pieces wouldn't be made for another 12 years. Interesting though, makes you wonder what it was cut down for.

 

[Mudflap333]

I thought that it might have been ground down to but when u look closely at the back around the sides u can see where the letters actually follow the beveled edge (hopefully I explained that right) where if it had been ground down there would be a distinct angle which the letters would not curve around. I've also looked at the sides under a microscope and they are very smooth. No sign of grinding, not to say a stronger scope might not show marks. I've attached another photo trying to show what I'm saying but I don't know if it really helps. Although, other then grinding I really don't know of any other explanation.

 

[l.cutler]

The letters following the bevel are proof that it was cut down. The die is flat, so there is no way it could strike the beveled edges. It may not have been ground down, it may have been cut with some kind of punch.

 

[huntsman53]

I agree that the coin was cut down, probably so that it could be placed into a specific sized round pendant bezel!


Frank

 

[Mudflap333]

That explains why it's so perfectly round. Still prefer it was a mint error though!