Found a 1923 Mercury with a strange defect

[Tenspeed]

I was hunting in Charlotte last week at a pretty good site and found two silver (1929 Standing Liberty Quarter (a first for me), 1923 Mercury dime), a crusty, holed large cent (also a first, soaking in olive oil trying to verify it is truly a large cent), 4 wheaties (1920, 1944 x 2, 1951D), typical clad and memorials, this heart pendant, and several other relics.

When I found the SLQ, I knew it was a quarter and wwas 6" deep, but didn't get my hopes up because a clad quarter had come out at 6" about 100 feet away. It was so nice to get this first out of the way. I have always watched other hunters find these.

The 1923 Mercury was also about 6" deep and it was also nice to see the silver in the hole. When I was looking at the dime today, I notice an oval raised area in front of the nose on the obverse. This area is matched on the back side with a raised area in the same location. Has anyone seen this before? Could there have been a defct in the blank or die?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[John - Maryland]

I would take it to a coin dealer and ask their advice. Could be worth some bucks.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Raised metal sounds like a die defect. Would be odd for it to be on both sides of the coin. I also think you should take it to a dealer to look at.