Found a unique coin and need opinions

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newbuddy56258
newbuddy56258 Posts: 49 ✭
in Buy, Sell, & Trade - U.S. Coins

I recently was searching through penny rolls, and I found a 1969-S pennie that has a symbol (raised metal) on both sides. It is a fairly large symbol that looks like an ampersand, but with a flat top. I've searched the web for matching images with no luck at all. The symbol is made of the metal of the coin itself, so it looks like it was produced when the die struck the coin at the mint. There is no evidence of depressed metal surrounding the symbols, so it can't be a post mint symbol added using a negative punch. I am wondering if anyone else has seen anything like this and what it might be, and possible value?

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  • newbuddy56258
    newbuddy56258 Posts: 49 ✭
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    These are pics of the coin and the symbols.

  • newbuddy56258
    newbuddy56258 Posts: 49 ✭
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    On obverse.

  • newbuddy56258
    newbuddy56258 Posts: 49 ✭
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    On reverse.

  • JimTyler
    JimTyler Posts: 4,101 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Someone punched it, it’s damage. Barely worth one cent

  • newbuddy56258
    newbuddy56258 Posts: 49 ✭
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    @JimTyler said:
    Someone punched it, it’s damage. Barely worth one cent

    Hi Jim. I really appreciate your comment and opinion. That was my first impression too. But, after close examination, there is no evidence of depression of metal around the symbol, which would be a tell-tale sign of a negative punch. From what I've seen and heard, post-mint marks created by negative punches leave evidence around the mark, because in order to create the raised symbol, the metal surrounding the punch would be depressed. There is no evidence of that onthis coin. I'm wondering if the die might have been marked by an inspector at the mint and the test coin was not intended for circulation?

  • RedRocket
    RedRocket Posts: 1,945 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @newbuddy56258
    New Buddy might be on to something. Like counterpunched/chopmarked Trade dollars I do wonder how PCGS would grade this cent and how competitive the bidding would be to own it?

    It may well be a one of one and thus command a premium.

  • newbuddy56258
    newbuddy56258 Posts: 49 ✭
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    @RedRocket said:
    @newbuddy56258
    New Buddy might be on to something. Like counterpunched/chopmarked Trade dollars I do wonder how PCGS would grade this cent and how competitive the bidding would be to own it?

    It may well be a one of one and thus command a premium.

    Hi @RedRocket. I appreciate your comment and opinion too. This is a very interesting coin. I've seen other coins that are post-mint punched (i.e.: Masonic symbols, etc.), but from what I've seen, there appears to be damage to the coin (depressed metal) around the symbol. I've checked this coin under high magnification and there is no such damage seen on this coin.

  • RedRocket
    RedRocket Posts: 1,945 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Before spending the cash to have it authenticated/certified/graded I'd take it to a local coin shop you trust and get their evaluation.
    You might have to go to multiple shops to find a dealer who has expertise in this area.
    It is intriguing, that is for sure.

  • mirabela
    mirabela Posts: 5,199 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Your post says it's a 69-S but the pic is a 63-D. Is the pic your coin?

    mirabela
  • newbuddy56258
    newbuddy56258 Posts: 49 ✭
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    Oh man. I am sorry. You are correct. The coin I found is a 1969-D, which has this symbol on it. I got mixed up because I also found a 1969-S this week that has the detached / floating roof. The one in the pictures is my coin and you are correct, it is a 1969-D.

  • newbuddy56258
    newbuddy56258 Posts: 49 ✭
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    Oh. And it is a 1963-D, not 1969. I'm so excited I have my years even mixed up. LOL Sorry for the confusion on my part everyone. Whew!

  • Relaxn
    Relaxn Posts: 1,265 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It is Post Mint Damage

    Please tell me a scenario that a 1963-d would receive a chopmark tantamount to the Trade dollar chops? Where are we using Cents in trade?

    Please apply a logic filter... clearly PMD, clearly worth the copper in it which is about 4 cents...

  • DesertCoin
    DesertCoin Posts: 482 ✭✭✭
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    Is the symbol raised or depressed? It looks punched into the coin in the photos.

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  • newbuddy56258
    newbuddy56258 Posts: 49 ✭
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    @DesertCoin said:
    Is the symbol raised or depressed? It looks punched into the coin in the photos.

    The symbol is raised, not punched into the metal..

  • newbuddy56258
    newbuddy56258 Posts: 49 ✭
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    Look at this close-up image. It is clearly raised up, not depressed in. I understand and appreciate the differing opinions. I thought it was PMD at first too. But, after I really looked at it closer under magnification, I'm not so sure it is PMD. Like I said in previous posts, there is no evidence of depression of the metal around the raised symbols, other than what is part of the coin die. A raised metal marking like this would require a negative punch, but those leave evidence by depressing the metal around the image. This has no evidence of that. It all looks perfect, except there is this symbol raising up from the normal surface of the coin. I totally understand the skeptacism, but I think it this deserves a much closer look.

  • JWP
    JWP Posts: 37,445 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It looks like a counter stamped coin. I have come across similar cents CRH. It is like a Masonic symbol being stamped on it. Just PMD. I would not even want it. Just put it back into circulations. You can find some weird science project using coins that are in circulation. Thanks for sharing.

    USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
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  • golden
    golden Posts: 10,536 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Damaged. Spend it.

  • RedRocket
    RedRocket Posts: 1,945 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @newbuddy56258 said:

    @DesertCoin said:
    Is the symbol raised or depressed? It looks punched into the coin in the photos.

    The symbol is raised, not punched into the metal..

    Be wary of those who mock and/or ridicule your cent and then send you private messages with offer to purchase it.
    Pennies on the dollar.
    Please allow experts to examine it before making any determination to, "just spend it".

  • MICHAELDIXON
    MICHAELDIXON Posts: 6,758 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    As others have said, it is not an error. Make this post on the US Coin Forum and the PCGS Error expert, Fred Weinberg, will answer your question.

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  • newbuddy56258
    newbuddy56258 Posts: 49 ✭
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    Thank you everyone for providing me with your opinions. I do appreciate them all, and will take them all into consideration.

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,085 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    FW is retired and comments less now than what he did before, which is rarely

    you are posting photos as file attachments. just drag and drop and those - like me - who don't open attachments can see what you have

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • DesertCoin
    DesertCoin Posts: 482 ✭✭✭
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    @newbuddy56258 said:

    @DesertCoin said:
    Is the symbol raised or depressed? It looks punched into the coin in the photos.

    The symbol is raised, not punched into the metal..

    I can't tell you much other than, if it is raised up, it would quite possibly be worth sending in to PCGS. It'll cost about $50-70, and chances are it will come back PMD. But (guessing, I have no examples of this ever occurring) it could be some kind of die marker. It somewhat resembles the Greek letter "Delta".

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  • Ike1964
    Ike1964 Posts: 290 ✭✭✭
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    Look at the edge of the coin. If the metal is raised, someone probably drilled through the edge to create the item in question.

    https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/mysetregistry/set/172592, PCGS w/CAC Key Date Coins, PCGS Grading Set Coins, Sample Slabs, Doily Labels.

  • newbuddy56258
    newbuddy56258 Posts: 49 ✭
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    @Ike1964 said:
    Look at the edge of the coin. If the metal is raised, someone probably drilled through the edge to create the item in question.

    No evidence of that seen on the edge.

  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,338 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 5, 2026 12:04PM
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    @newbuddy56258 said:
    It is a fairly large symbol that looks like an ampersand, but with a flat top.

    I think it IS an ampersand. Just a rather stylized one. (I’ve seen them with flat tops). Now, what it’s doing on the coin, what it means in context, and what the backstory there is, I have no clue. 🤔

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

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