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Replies: 19 / Views: 962 |
Pillar of the Community

United States
3248 Posts |
I am not entirely sure how this error occurred, and am looking for some insight. Just found it in a roll of BU coins, seemingly an original roll as there were a lot of matching dies, but just this one like this. The reverse seems normal, as does most of the outer portions of the obverse. But Lincoln's face has been polished to a super smooth surface. I don't know if the diagonal lines are part of the planchet metal structure of if something came across the coin creating them. It has the look of a late stage struck through die cap although the only affected area is in the center. Any help sorting this one out is appreciated. 1959-D Lincoln Memorial cent mint error - smooth face   
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Pillar of the Community

United States
2831 Posts |
"Shine, shine a Roosevelt dime. All the way to Baltimore and runnin' out of time." Tom Waits-Clap Hands 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1983 Posts |
Very cool! I would think that it was struck through a thin material such as clear tape. I have used that stuff before and noticed as it came off the roll that there were lines on it much like , for a better description, roller lines. The lines on each side of the bust on this coin are flowing in the same direction but the angle is slightly different than they flow on the bust. This seems to imply that the material that was struck through became trapped in position on the fields by the first kiss of the die but moved with the flow of the metal as it filled the bust. The fields of the coin received much more pressure from the strike so evidence of the struck through material is less there . The bust receives less pressure so the impact on the design will be greater there. Again, very cool find !
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Pillar of the Community

United States
4760 Posts |
I'm clueless. All I can say is nice find.
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Bedrock of the Community

United States
50227 Posts |
I sent Mike a note on this one. I wondered if it was struck through a small piece of cello? Never seen this before.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2003 Posts |
It appears to have been scuffed after it left the press. The shiny part of the face has hairline scratches that can be seen in the field on either side of the bust. I have no idea how, when, or where the damage was inflicted. It could have occurred inside the Mint or in a coin-wrapping facility.
Error coin writer and researcher.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1983 Posts |
Not quite sure how a scrape can follow the general flow of the design evenly on the high and low points . The lines from the scrape also flowing along.
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Pillar of the Community

United States
8441 Posts |
Rather have a smooth head than a smooth brain 
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Pillar of the Community

United States
3248 Posts |
I'll shoot some macro stuff this evening. I am not convinced a scrape could produce the proof-like finish on the coin as it is. We shall see what some close up work turns up. Seems to me the areas in the field that have lines are just additional polished areas not scratch marks.
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Valued Member
United States
487 Posts |
Very interesting. Hope the close scope work reveals and answer.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2071 Posts |
I'm going with the scrape/rub. My reasoning is because the "scratches" don't affect the areas immediately around the raised areas. Still looks cool.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1503 Posts |
Looks like Abe got sick of the wiskers and dun gone to the barber and got a shave  . 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1099 Posts |
I'm going to go with a buffing wheel went over the device and field in a direction from the right to left.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1920 Posts |
Quote: I'm going to go with a buffing wheel went over the device and field in a direction from the right to left. I'll agree with Dearborn on this scenario. Maybe with the macro setting it might show a little more to this coins story. Not sure I've told you but have always enjoyed your pictures.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2127 Posts |
There doesn't appear to be as many nicks and dings in the affected area which makes me think it happened after it was struck.
Can you give us one more image at the forehead and field? It's hard to tell if the effect ends at the forehead or continues onto the field.
Words of encouragement are one of the major food groups. We need to consume them regularly to thrive and grow.
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Pillar of the Community

United States
3248 Posts |
Took a few more images and did some zoom in inspection. Sadly, the surface is mirror-like and I just can not get the darn thing in super sharp focus. But I can say that upon close inspection I agree that the area has been rubbed by something and is not a struck through sort of event. Mike is right as usual (thanks Mike!). The only other thing of note I saw was that inside the ear and around the edge of the beard and lips there is a small amount of grease deposit. Kind of like the coin got stuck in a rubber conveyor briefly and got buffed, with the event leaving some crud in at the bottom of steep spots on the coin. Make sense? It was an original roll (there were multiples of most dies including 6 RIDB-1C-1959D-01 in there) and my guess is, as Mike suggests, an event that occurred after the strike either at the mint or the rolling place. I still think it is a very nifty neat-o looking coin, just not an error coin as I thought. Sorry for the fuzzy pics, but best I could do without much camera mayhem. Good luck interpreting the ear photo as it is pretty confusing.   
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Replies: 19 / Views: 962 |
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