Whizzing

leaves tell tale hairlines and significantly devalues the coin

Most whizzing is pretty obvious. However on the opposite side of this, when I first got into buying Morgans big time in 08, I had a very very nice 1883P that I was told had been whizzed.....long after I bought it. I had posted it on an online forum and asked opinions on grade and received a long litany of "whizzed" because of some parallel lines that were visible in the field in front of Anna's face.

Two years later I was set up at a local show and was asked why I wasn't selling the 83P. When I told him it was whizzed he got his loupe out and asked me "you mean you can't tell planchent striations from whiz marks? Three other dealers all said the same thing and while I ended up being embarrassed I also learned a valuable lesson.

If you think it is whizzed look at the marks. Do they run right up to and abut the lettering, bust, or other feature? If they do then they are probably planchent striations. Or Die scratches from the repair of a clashed die. I have some absolutely "scratched up" Lincoln cents that die scratches.

Also Whizzed marks are dug mostly in the coin. Though they can displace metal and so you will have some raised areas. However; the "valleys" are going to be on the same level as the field.

JM,
I posted some images under a thread titled: 'Is this an example of a whizzed coin?'

I would attach them here if possible, but can't figure it out. Could you take a look at this coing and see if it is an example of planchent striations?

Thanks,
Terry McManus

I appreciate everyone's feedback on this.... Thanks!