Lincoln cent blobs - zinc explosions?

rjsvt

Are defects like these common on newer lincoln cents? I've read about the zinc breaking through the surface of the coin, but some of the blobs look like they have shape to them and are not just amorphous blobs (except the big zit on Abe's nose).

1995 LIBERTY blob
1995 exploding zit
1995 obverse
1995 reverse

2003 Blob between first colums
2003 obverse
2003 reverse

I know next to nothing about Lincoln Cents, any info appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob

LincolnCentMan

Blobs are very common.

David

rjsvt

<< <i>Blobs are very common.

David >>



Thanks David. Looks like no early retirement for me.

Thenewguy

On the 2003 it's hard to tell with the pic but it looks like it could possibly be a die chip. The edges of the blob look pretty abrupt and defined and not mushy and rounded like most gas bubbles and under the plating corrosion I have seen. I could be wrong though..wouldn't be the first time.

errormaven

The blob on the 1995 cent could have three causes:

1. A popped "blister". Inadequate adhesion of copper plating to the underlying zinc (often caused by surface contaminants), and subsequent gas expansion under the heat generated by the strike, causes a blister to pop up. These can rupture. Since there is an unpopped blister by the L of LIBERTY, this scenario carries some weight.

2. Subsurface corrosion caused by contaminants eating away at the zinc and producing an expanding dome of corroded zinc that pushed up the plating. This can also pop.

3. A pinhole in the copper plating that allowed the reactive zinc to corrode and expand.

The reverse of your 2003 cent appears to show a die chip.

ABC123

Anything is Possible--Barry Bonds !

GoldenEyeNumismatics

perhaps bubbles in the plated that popped?

AlixTCat

Just to make things easier for everyone...

1995 Liberty blob

1995 exploding zit

1995 obverse

1995 reverse


2003 Blob between first columns

2003 obverse

2003 reverse

coinman420

<< <i>The blob on the 1995 cent could have three causes:

1. A popped "blister". Inadequate adhesion of copper plating to the underlying zinc (often caused by surface contaminants), and subsequent gas expansion under the heat generated by the strike, causes a blister to pop up. These can rupture. Since there is an unpopped blister by the L of LIBERTY, this scenario carries some weight.

2. Subsurface corrosion caused by contaminants eating away at the zinc and producing an expanding dome of corroded zinc that pushed up the plating. This can also pop.

3. A pinhole in the copper plating that allowed the reactive zinc to corrode and expand.

The reverse of your 2003 cent appears to show a die chip. >>