Only 13 Finer...

Yeah, I tend to agree. The strike is what I was really appreciating. Look at those feathers!

Beautiful coin and it interesting that no mention of the planchet adjustment marks on it were mentioned on the label. If the same marks were on a later type dime the coin would probably be labeled as scratched with a details grade if it got a grade at all.

Ed
ANA LM-3175

Adjustment marks were made at the Mint to bring the weight into precise compliance with standard, since they circulated at bullion value. Planchet weight control was not particularly great, so the Mint tended to cut planchets heavy and lessen the weight later.

This usually happened before the strike, so what you see here wouldn't happen. Indeed, planchet marks are more common on larger than smaller coins due to the greater pressure required to fill out the die of the larger coin - smaller ones filled the die much more easily.

The only thing I can think for this coin is that the planchet slipped through the process and was discovered heavy after it was struck. I cannot explain why they didn't just restrike it, unless it was assumed circulation would wear the marks quickly anyways.

I keep coming back to this thread. Boy, really has a lot of high end stuff.

Funny at first, I did not like the coin. But the more I look at it (thanks to the comments here), the more I am drawn to it. Even the marks don't bother me as much. Ah, where is that $52G I had laying around?

Another fun fact about adjustment marks on eighteenth century coins of the Philadelphia Mint, the positions created for the Mint workers who made those marks were essentially held by women. One of the first documented female workforces in the US government.

The adjustment marks were definitely done post strike as evident by the stars.
Very interesting indeed.

Normally, the devices sit on top of the adjustment marks. In this case, the graders have seen enough of them to recognize in this case.