1990 1¢ WUFO-001

Description:  A raised circular dot can be found to the right of the bottom of the G in the designer’s initials FG.

Die Markers:  Obverse:  None significant.  Reverse:  A small die gouge can be found to the right of the bottom of the U in UNITED.

Submitted By:  Kenneth R. Simpson

Cross References:  None known

Comments:  Since this crazy “variety” falls outside my realm of expertise, Mr. Simpson contacted Mike Diamond who writes the Collectors Clearinghouse column for Coin World and is quite an expert at both errors and die varieties.  Mr. Diamond’s analysis follows: “Contrary to my expectations, it does not appear to be a plating blister, a solid dome of swollen corroded zinc, a die chip, or a die bleb (die erosion pit).  It really does appear to be a tiny indentation in the die face.  As to what caused it, I can’t speculate.  It’s too small and in the wrong location to be a Rockwell test mark.  Rockwell test marks should be out in the middle of the field, since impressing one close to a die recess will alter the reading.  It could represent accidental die damage, but its perfectly circular shape would be unusual for such an error.”  Mr. Diamond further comments that “It will probably be filed away as an unexplained curiosity.”  Based on this analysis I feel it definitely deserves a UFO listing number.