Toonie Error

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I found this 2001 Toonie. The text on the obverse seemed weird. So I looked under a 2x maginifying glass and it seems that it is a case of some die chip type of situation. But the magnitude of it is horrifying when seen at a higher magification. Am I missing something or is it indeed some sort of a die related defect. Here are two pictures. One showing the coin in question and another a 2001 toonie that seems normal (although with similar wear in other areas)

I found this 2001 Toonie. The text on the obverse seemed weird. So I looked under a 2x maginifying glass and it seems that it is a case of some die chip type of situation. But the magnitude of it is horrifying when seen at a higher magification. Am I missing something or is it indeed some sort of a die related defect. Here are two pictures. One showing the coin in question and another a 2001 toonie that seems normal (although with similar wear in other areas)

Notice the B, T, H and the II

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{http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7717/12001diechipcrop2.jpg:http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7717/12001diechipcrop2.th.jpg}

Interesting find. However due to the amount of circulation that coin has... it could be damage due to circulation rather than an actual mint error (imo). Ill let the others chip in with their opinions but that's what I think.

Interesting find. However due to the amount of circulation that coin has... it could be damage due to circulation

That's exactly what I thought when I saw it. So I started looking at coins with similar type of wear on other areas of the coins and on the reverse. Then I compared the obverse text with that in similarly worn coin. I could not find similar metal flow on coins even with worst wear in them.

So I started looking at it under higher magnificaiton (which unfortunately I cannot photograph) and here is what I think is happening. The coin at one time had some die related issues on the obverse. However over time the die crack type of artificats themselves started wearing and blending with the adjoining metal. So it is difficult to distinguish the extra metal from its surrounding.

Is there someone I can bring it to (in the Toronto area) who might provide some insight? I am more interested in the cause of the condition. The condition is better seen with the coin in hand rather than through the scans.

Even if it is wear it is interesting the way it manifests and I am curious to understand how it can happen in this manner (i.e. blobs of metal around the main shape of the text)