1918 wheat penny error

I found a 1918 wheat penny that weighs 3 grams and is same size as a dime , also all features including Lincoln are scaled down. I cant find one like it was wondering if anyone has seen it or has an explanation on it.

 

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Back side

 

The cent should weigh 3.1 but due to wear and some environmental damage. 3 grams isn't out of the ordinary.

 

As far as weight goes tht is what i assumed what i cant get around is all the features scaled sown almost two cm and its got a lil oval shape to it like been struck on a dime planchet

 

If the larger cent die struck a dime planchet then the features would not be scaled down. It would just overlay the smaller dime planchet.

FYI, The harden steel die doesn't change it's size based on the size of planchet it's about to strike.
The smaller, scaled down features represent something else at play here ...

@paddyman98 ??

 

It isn't a silver dime planchet. They weigh 2.50gms. It looks like a damaged copper cent. The edges look pressed and flattened, especially on the reverse. It could be an encased cent that was removed.

 

If it were struck on a dime planchet, it wouldn't be copper, and it couldn't have full cent rims. The dime being smaller, the rims would not be complete.
Yes, and the weight would be 2.5 g not 3.0g.

 

I agree with @Oldhoopster .. It could of been encased in an old Cent holder like a Lucky Charm Cent souvenir. Then it was removed and suffered more damage.
Not a Mint Error

 

acid intentionally or in the acidic ground for many years.

 

I dont see how being in a charm wld make the scale of lincoln smaler or acid. Yes its a little flattened edges but still no reason for the picture to b scaled down it had to b struck with a smaller lincoln to begin with.. thanks for your help i will have to take it to a pro my poctures are not conveying how big of a difference between a regular penny and this penny, its not the size as much as the scale

 

One of a kind errors are found everyday jst because no one has seen this one doesnt mean it isnt one

 

Errors come out of the mint. Damage comes after.
Your coin didn't leave the mint this way 100 years ago.
What during the coin minting process caused this to happen?
There isn't anything. But there are a number of things that could have happened by accident, or on purpose, or environmentally to cause this to happen.
I don't agree on the acid as that usually reduces the weight.
It's not an error.

 

Acid attacks all surfaces, including the edges, so coins become thinner as well as less diameter. The details will remain ( maybe a little hazy, as the compression of the metal can alter the rate of dissolving a little). If it was silver or copper nickel, it would be different, but being copper, I would say acid damage. IMO. Jim

 

Just an FYI. Make sure your pro is really a pro. You're a new member and don't necessarily know the players, but you've received a response from someone who has been collecting error coins for over 30 years and another who has a strong background in chemistry. Others who answered have demonstrated their knowledge of the minting and die making process over the years in numerous posts. I'm not being critical of your skepticism, but just want to give you some info

Also, I'm not denigrating your pro, but just because somebody sells coins doesn't mean they are knowledgable on every area of numismatics. Ask him to explain the minting process or how errors like doubled dies are made. If he can't do that (and some local dealers don't know much about errors) then you should have the same skepticism that you have here

Hope this helps

 

You're saying it's a seemingly complete penny, just at 9/10's scale or thereabouts. Since a coin can't shrink, it's likely some sort of novelty piece, don't you think?

 

NO, I think it was originally a normal coin. Since ther have been coins minted on off metal blanks, and they are expensive, people try to imitate them for sell. I do not think this is the case here, but it has been done.

As far as a coin shrinking, it also can be done with human help.
http://www.capturedlightning.com/frames/shrinker.html

 

I had not seen that site before. I don't know that it's in play here but it's fascinating stuff.

Since the energy is discharged within 20-40 millionths of a second, the peak power briefly approaches the electrical power consumed by a large city. The repulsion forces between the work coil and the coin create radial compressive forces that easily overcome the yield strength of the alloys in the coin, causing the coin's diameter to shrink. A 5,000 joule pulse reduces a US clad quarter to the diameter of a dime.

 

But.. Your Cent is not a Mint Error

 

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