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 Replies: 71 / Views: 10,384 |
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Valued Member
United States
460 Posts |
Thought I would share this unusual error I recently purchased. It's a 1988 Loon Dollar struck through a round washer. I wish I had the struck washer too!   |
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Valued Member
Canada
426 Posts |
Hi Zimmy,
I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it is my opinion your coin is a fake error. If it were truly struck through a round washer, there would be absolutely no impression of the design in the part where the washer mark is because the die would not have made contact with the blank in that section. It seems the washer mark was imprinted after the coin was minted.
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Valued Member
 United States
460 Posts |
I appreciate your opinion, however if the washer was thin enough (which there are very thin washer made), the image from the die can faintly show through as it did with my coin. I have handled many struck through errors on US coins that exhibit this same effect. The most common type is a struck through clad layer that is thin enough for the image to show through. Unfortunately, I don't have another example to scan but this error type shows up fairly frequently on the web. An example on ebay is item #[eBayItem]380177898582[/eBayItem]. Additionally, the reverse picture of my coin shows absolutely no stress or distortion from someone trying to impress a washer into my coin. It would be very difficult or maybe impossible to reproduce this without somehow bending the coin, making a bulge opposite the "impression" or in some way damaging the coin. The coin has some light wear, normally caused by someone carrying it as a pocket piece (showing it to other people for its novelty). What do you think? Thanks, |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
9862 Posts |
How about struck through a page protector? Here's a picture of a loonie and a page protector.Looks like this could have done the deed.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2661 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
Additionally, the reverse picture of my coin shows absolutely no stress or distortion from someone trying to impress a washer into my coin. It would be very difficult or maybe impossible to reproduce this without somehow bending the coin, making a bulge opposite the "impression" or in some way damaging the coin.  I cannot see how this could be made post-mint, without creating damage to the obverse, and changing the overall circumference of the coin. I cannot see such evidence in your pics. For the sake of argument, let's say it was done post-mint. A hard, circular tool would force the coin against a solid base, like an anvil. Metal is being displaced, forcing the coin opposite the striking object and outward. I would think such force would bend the coin, flatten the obverse rim and portrait, and distort the overall circumference--especially around 3 o'clock. Conversely, if a washer-shaped object entered the striking chamber with a planchet, the strike would force this into the coin under high pressure, while the collar and dies would otherwise produce a normal appearance and size. Anything that would take up volume under pressure could create such a depression. Some design details may also be transmitted through this foreign object. If the material is different than the planchet metal, it may easily disintegrate or fall out after the strike. I'm not the expert here; it's just fun to think this through. I could be wrong, but I like what I see--and hope to hear an expert opinion.  Edited by DVCollector
09/27/2010 4:49 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I agree if that was a washer it was struck through it would be cool to have the washer also
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Valued Member
Canada
426 Posts |
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I cannot see how this could be made post-mint, without creating damage to the obverse, and changing the overall circumference of the coin. With a block of wood against the obverse and a thick washer against the reverse, this could easily be accomplished in a vice. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Splatto--I challenge you to reproduce that coin with a wood block, washer and vise.  |
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Valued Member
Canada
250 Posts |
I'd love for this coin to be real. However I cannot ignore the supreme coincidience of the "washer" perfectly placed around the loons head and wonder at the odds. Seems very very fortunate. That being said...it is of course possible. Maybe someone at the mint has a sense of humour.
$0.02 Worth
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Valued Member
Canada
250 Posts |
I also have to note that if the "washer" was thick enough to leave a depression in the coin it was unlikely thin enough to allow any transmission of the image from the die to the planchet.
My wife will be the first to tell you all that I have been wrong before though.
$0.02 Worth
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Valued Member
Canada
200 Posts |
Zimmy.
Any chance of a close-up of the beads at the rim where the "damage" is?
My guess is post-mint but I'd like to have better view.
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Valued Member
Canada
426 Posts |
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Splatto--I challenge you to reproduce that coin with a wood block, washer and vise. I don't have the tools here but when I visit my folks during Thanksgiving 12 days from now I will put my theory (and others!) to the test! |
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Valued Member
Canada
426 Posts |
Quote:
I also have to note that if the "washer" was thick enough to leave a depression in the coin it was unlikely thin enough to allow any transmission of the image from the die to the planchet. Exactly. |
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Valued Member
United States
460 Posts |
Did any of you guys look on ebay at the item number I posted? There is a perfect example of metal (split off clad layer) leaving an indent in the coin and still allowing the image to show through (even stronger than mine). Also, good luck trying to duplicate this without damaging the coin. The obverse of my coin is without any damage, softness, etc. I originally wanted to take a closeup of the beading area but I don't have the means. It would add to the authenticity because the effect in that area also cannot be duplicated. I knew this coin would create controversy......I have been handling errors for 3o years and made mistakes along the way but that is how you learn. There is absolutely nothing about this error that leads me to beleive that it is a fake or I would not have purchased it. As time goes on, I will post some more interesting areas. Thanks for everyone's input! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
I also have to note that if the "washer" was thick enough to leave a depression in the coin it was unlikely thin enough to allow any transmission of the image from the die to the planchet. Just to offer a different viewpoint on Zimmy's coin. If the foreign object is not as dense as the planchet, the shear force of the strike will cause coin metal to partially flow into this less dense material towards the die, resulting in design details. The coin metal is under high pressure and flows into die cavities. You'll see this effect on many of strike-throughs. When find my own photos, I'll post them. Well, that's just my take. I hope some people with strike-throughs can post comparison pictures. If I had a Loonie and a vise here, I'd try to reproduce this coin myself. |
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Replies: 71 / Views: 10,384 |
Posted 09/26/2010 7:25 pm
