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Replies: 19 / Views: 545 |
Valued Member
United States
262 Posts |
Good people, what causes wood graining on Lincoln Wheat cent, is this a lamination error or alloy mix issue and are the two mutually exclusive. Attached is an example of two LWC Woodie Cents. 1941 LWC Wood Grain but no Lamination Error?    1942 LWC Wood Grain and Lamination Error?   
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4658 Posts |
In a true "woodie" the issue is an improper alloy mix, and the "woodgrain" would flow in the exact same direction on both sides. 
ça va bien aller
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Valued Member
United States
62 Posts |
Merclover,
I may be thinking the same thing you are. The 1942 has the same direction/angle to the grain when I mentally flip it. I don't see the same on the 1940, but maybe it is the photo.
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Bedrock of the Community

United States
53797 Posts |
Woodgraining is caused by an improper alloy mix. Some collectors like them, others don't. In circulated condition, like these, there is typically very little premium.
Edited by Coinfrog 12/02/2020 9:07 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4658 Posts |
One is, one isn't. Which makes me question both. 
ça va bien aller
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Valued Member
United States
62 Posts |
Coinfrog,
I do have that question.
My thinking is that different metallic domains will be stretched in the same direction when the metal is worked in preparing stock for planchets. The directions have to match front to back that way.
I can understand how opposing directions would be perceived if that is true. For an obverse/reverse pair of photos for something with medal alignment, the angle would appear the same. For coin alignment, the angles would appear to be mirror images (different angles) because of the different axis of rotation.
If my understanding of how a woody originates is incorrect, then I apologize for the incorrect gibberish above.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3887 Posts |
IMO your 1940 cent looks AU to Ms and I believe a premium can be added to that cent...lovely coin... 
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Bedrock of the Community

United States
53797 Posts |
Numiscrat - I can only speak from experience and the obvious fact that this 1941 cent is clearly genuine.
Edited by Coinfrog 12/02/2020 10:46 pm
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Valued Member
United States
62 Posts |
Coinfrog,
I still am wondering if my understanding as stated above is correct, but after working my way through those pics again, I realize I was incorrect about the 1940. I thought the grain was running the other direction. I believe the grain direction does match.
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Valued Member
United States
262 Posts |
It's evident my description produced the unintended inference that one of the two coins was not a woody, when the goal was to assume both were woodies but which was also with a lamination error. My question was to Evaluate if any of these coins has a lamination error. The answer appears to be no. None of the photos are doctored but are raw coins. For noobs like me it is important to know the why in addition to the what, otherwise you could be hosed in a trade, buy or sell. or make an unfavorable impression, which I hope was not my case here. Thanks for all the engagement, it was a blast to read!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4658 Posts |
Ok, let's visit this in a bit more detail... it's somewhat difficult with a single coin, but much more confusing when dealing with two coins (part of the reason we ask for one coin per thread). As discussed above, with an improper alloy mix, the "grain" has to match both sides. Think of a plank of wood, the wood grain flows in the same direction throughout the wood. Same thing with a true "woodie" cent. Also as mentioned, the orientation of U.S. coins is such that when flipped over, the reverse appears "up-side-down" in relation to the obverse. As an example, an ooze from 11 o'clock to 5 o'clock on one side would be expected to travel 1-7 o'clock when flipped to the other side. Following this orientation, the "grain" of the first coin above (the 1940) is in direct opposition to what it should be, while the grain in second coin (the 1941) moves as expected, that is, the flow of the grain matches correctly. I'll go out on a limb here and say it is nearly impossible for grain flow between the obverse and reverse to act in a 90 degree stream in relationship to each other, yet it is in the first (1940) coin. So, that is why I said above that one is a woodie, and one is not. And if one is true and one untrue, it makes you wonder how this could have happened? Is one or even both simply surface marks and not a real improper alloy mix? 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1933 Posts |
The 1940 has the "grain" running in the proper direction on both sides. If you look at the reverse pic of the 1940 coin and focus to the viewers left wheat you will see the grain is running correctly between the rim and the wheat. The 90 degree ripples that are a telltale of a lam are just showing darker on this example.
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Valued Member
United States
262 Posts |
I have a lot to this about, love this Forum!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4658 Posts |
Quote: The 1940 has the "grain" running in the proper direction on both sides. OK, I've officially been looking at too many cents. I'm sorry, I had my American cents orientation backwards. I spend most of my "hands on" time searching through Canadian Cents, where the "up-side-down" flip over applies. It's American Cents that remain correct orientation. Sorry for the confusion.  So that means it's the 1940 cent that is the true woodie pictured above, while the second coin, the 1941 is not.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
955 Posts |
Neat finds, not sure about the '40, but the '41 is definitely one!
Keep track of your collection: https://en.ucoin.net/?ref=Ux0E0if My collection: https://en.ucoin.net/uid112788 A friendly coin dude that is here for you! A coin collector from the Midwest USA. I specialize in minting varieties and coin identification. I am online 3+ times every day for 6-12 hours. My best US coin find: http://goccf.com/t/387871
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
37273 Posts |
( I'm no pro, it's just my humble opinion ) Searched 5+ Million Cents Since 1971
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Replies: 19 / Views: 545 |
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