Crack-Like Line Around Edge Of 2004 Nickel

What you are seeing is the shear line created when the blank is punched out of the strip. In this case the top of the strip was on the side that became the reverse of the coin. As the punch came through the strip it cut the metal resulting in a smooth edge. You can see this below the line toward the reverse. Once the punch got past the halfway point the metal then tore out of the strip leaving the rough section above the line. This shear line can be see on all coins but it is most commonly seen on plain edge coins.

The milling machine and then the collar are supposed to wipe out this shear line but high speed operations often causes the mint operators to lower pressures so the machines can operate faster. This results in a strong shear line remaining visible.

Wow thanks Conder101, that is a very nice explanation I've got there. So it is called a "shear line". I will hard copy your inputs for my infobook. Thanks too coindexter.

junjie