1926 Lincoln Wide Rim?

Mercfan · April 27, 2006 1:27PM

Hold the fanfare, folks, but I think that I (finally) have the ability to post a photo or two.

What do you think is going on with the wide rim on this 1926 cent? Is it just wear on the perimeter that's far greater than the wear on the central high spots? If so, how soes that occur? If not, what's the cause of the unusually wide rim?

The wide rimmmed coin:

And for easy comparison, a normal 1926:

I'm sure I'd be enlightened by any of your thoughts on this phenomenon.

Thanks!

P.S.--The reverse has an equally wide rim on the top coin.

DickyBetz · April 27, 2006 1:31PM

it looks like it was put between two flat heavy things and flattened.

Mercfan · April 27, 2006 1:44PM

Yup. But why no flattening of the left end of the bowtie (for example)? Shouldn't it be high enough to be flattened by anything that would flatten the rim?

pharmer · April 27, 2006 1:55PM

Interesting, and nice comparison images. Looking forward to seeing more of your hoard. Note how on the top image the rim wear brings the rim into contact with IGWT and L of LIBERTY. My guess is it's just wearing down of the rim. Haven't seen this before though, and hopefully someone smart can explain it.

Mercfan · April 27, 2006 2:14PM

I did notice that, Pharmer, and that supports the "wear" hypothesis.

But look at the rim to the left of the "L" in "Liberty" (on both coins). If the wide rim coin was just worn, shouldn't the worn, flattened rim have gobbled up the vertical part of the "L"? And would there still be separation between "IN" and the rim at 10 o'clock?

I'd judge the top coin to be VF, and how do you get a rim to be THAT worn and still have VF (or better) detail elsewhere?

cladking · April 27, 2006 2:22PM

I'd guess that it was an encased cent. These are stamped into a piece of aluminum
for advertising or as good luck pieces. If so, then the edge of the coin should have
damage as well that usually looks like long circular ridges.

TonedCoinTrader · April 27, 2006 2:24PM

Possible Struck out of collar error.

ajia · April 27, 2006 2:37PM

Don't know the answer, but i don't buy the 'wear' theory.
If that was the case the 'L' in Liberty would be worn down to the point were it would be barely visiable.

JMO

cladking · April 27, 2006 3:01PM

<< <i>Don't know the answer, but i don't buy the 'wear' theory.
If that was the case the 'L' in Liberty would be worn down to the point were it would be barely visiable.

JMO >>

The coin has very little wear on it. Normal wear would never show up this way.

Wolf359 · April 27, 2006 3:07PM

<< <i>Possible Struck out of collar error. >>

I thought so too.

rmoss · April 27, 2006 4:56PM

I am going to take a guess at this one. Having had, in years past, ran the same kind of press, where I now work, that the mint uses. When setting up the press the top die is adjusted down to the stationary bottom die. In the process of doing this you have to run sample pieces to check until you get it right. Due to the lack of detail on Lincoln's ear and in the hair and coat lapels, and lettering, I would guess this might be a trial piece that just got out by mistake. It's not fully struck.

drwstr123 · April 27, 2006 8:10PM

Hi Mercfan-nice pics! I'd try Charles' site for an answer:
LINKY

WaterSport · April 27, 2006 8:24PM

What ever the cause, I have seen Wide Rim Lincolns bedore especially on cents struck 1916-1928. Chuck should have the answer.

WS

Mercfan · April 27, 2006 10:40PM

<< <i>

<< <i>Possible Struck out of collar error. >>

I thought so too. >>

I don't know an awful lot about the minting process, but wouldn't a planchet struck without a collar "spread out" and have a larger diameter than one properly sturck with a collar in place? The two cents I've pictured are identical in diameter.

P.S.--Wow, my 100th post! (Time to stop thinking of myself as just a lurker.)

errormaven · April 27, 2006 11:23PM

It looks like a broadstrike to me. Although I can't detect any metal flow in the design elements bordering the expanded perimeter, everthing else looks good.

Smittys · April 27, 2006 11:43PM

Looks like a encased cent remove from holder, I have an exact date still in the
good luck charm with the wide rims.

errormaven · April 28, 2006 12:00AM

If it was an encased cent, then a false rim would be present that has been pushed in toward the center of the coin. This false rim would be bordered by a flat, occasionally sloping plane. There is no rim of any kind in this specimen. Also the coin's diameter would be smaller than normal and the edge would be concave in vertical cross section, like a bicycle tire rim.

If this coin's diameter is larger than normal, and if the edge is flat, trapezoidal or convex in vertical cross-section, then I'd say it's a broadstrike.

messydesk · April 28, 2006 12:29AM

What does the edge of the coin look like? If it's thin and rather rounded, then it doesn't sound like an encased coin, which should have a sharp edge on it somewhere. I'm having trouble saying broadstrike, though, since the lettering at the edges is pretty sharp and undistorted.

1926 Lincoln Wide Rim?

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