Im no expert. What do you think?

JustinMC

morgandollar1878

Not an error. It looks like it has taken a lot of hits from something or submerged in a chemical of some sort, however it was after it was made.

Hemispherical

Welcome to the CU forums @JustinMC.

Has the look of an acid experiment, i.e. dipped in acid.

http://www.error-ref.com/acid-shrunk-coins/

Oldhoopster

Agree. It was exposed to some type of acidic or caustic solution. It did not leave the mint looking like that.

JustinMC

Thanks guys. I was figuring acid. Appreciate yall.

Insider2

Acid does not flatten letters or leave deep hits as this appears. IMO, just banged-up.

Hemispherical

@Insider2 said:
Acid does not flatten letters or leave deep hits as this appears. IMO, just banged-up.

Rock tumbler with acid?

Oldhoopster

I believe a weaker acidic or caustic solution could preferentially etch the metal grains and leave a mottled appearance like this. It certainly wasn't the 70% HNO3 you'd find in a lab

ifthevamzarockin

A wire wheel on a bench grinder will move metal & produce a grainy texture. Don't know if that is the case here?

In any event it looks like PMD.

Insider2

@Hemispherical said:

@Insider2 said:
Acid does not flatten letters or leave deep hits as this appears. IMO, just banged-up.

Rock tumbler with acid?

Don't think so.

@Oldhoopster said:
I believe a weaker acidic or caustic solution could preferentially etch the metal grains and leave a mottled appearance like this. It certainly wasn't the 70% HNO3 you'd find in a lab

Disagree.

@ifthevamzarockin said:

A wire wheel on a bench grinder will move metal & produce a grainy texture. Don't know if that is the case here?

In any event it looks like PMD.

My best guess is some sort of mechanical alteration.

ifthevamzarockin

Just a quick demo of what a wire wheel does to a coin.

sellitstore

Hard to tell due to quality of original photo but I agree with @Insider2 looks like mechanical damage, like many small, deliberate hits. Small pointed object tapped or jabbed into the surface hundreds of times by hand or possibly an engraving tool, hand or mechanical. Really need better photos to be more confident in this diagnosis.