Romania 20 Lei 1930 KM-50 : error or damage ?

[MORGENSTERNN]

Hello,

I got here a Romanian 20 Lei 1930 KM-50 with a little defect on the obverse (on the harm of the third character from the left, see pictures)
Do you think it's a mint error or a later damage ?

Thank you !

[Figleaf]

Good question, but hard to answer. If it is a mint error, the scenario that comes to mind is a small piece of metal getting stuck in the die. However, it could also be a random scratch, especially since the coin has obviously seen a good amount of circulation.

Peter

[MORGENSTERNN]

I wait to get it in hands to have an idea

[Lori]

 This is a mint error, Peter was right.
 It's a nice coin with an interesting story, coin is known among romanian numismatists like "HORA" ( circular dance) in fact ,  obverse side represent the Great Romania Allegory. Mother Romania regains her daughters Basarabia, Bucovina and Transilvania,alltoghether returned to Motherland in 1918 at the end of WW I.
Source of inspiration for this obverse side of the coin was a work of art in white marble  "Union Monument" in the city of Iasi , made by Princess Olga Sturdza (sculptress) in 1924. Monument was destroyed after 1944 by communist authorities and rebuit after 1989 to initial parameters.
Coins of King Mihai I circulated very little time, he was dethrowned by his father  King Carol II in the same year -8th June 1930.  Personally, I think not all of them circulated due to this short period of time and many of them were melted, it's difficult to find this coin in very good conditions, about UNC ......
There was a total of 50.000.000 coins struck , at London Royal Mint 40.000.000 - with no mint mark, 5.000.000 at Birmingham King's  Norton Metal Company with KN mint mark and 5.000.000 at Birmingham Heaton Mint with H mint mark.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Monument,_Ia%C8%99i
https://www.google.ro/search?q=20+lei+1930&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTv-3z1OLeAhXCccAKHXOxC-MQsAR6BAgDEAE&biw=1592&bih=772

[Figleaf]

Good analysis. I was surprised that all figures were women, as I had taken the second figure from the right as a bearded, helmeted male. On closer inspection, the "beard" is an extension of the damage to the arm.

Peter

[Lori]

Thank you Peter.

Regards