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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,428 |
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Valued Member
United States
77 Posts |
I have seen the term "has hairlines" associated with grading Lincolns. I don't want to make any assumptions, exactly what is this term referencing? Are they talking about scratches?
Thanks,
Tom
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
twjcpj,
Yes, in most cases these are scratches caused by "light cleaning" and are a negative factor in grading. There are some exceptions ... the mint will sometimes polish a die and the "polishing lines" may appear to be hairlines. You have to observe the lines from different angles of light to determine which one you are dealing with. That's why it's virtually impossible for us to tell from a photo. Hope that helps.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19943 Posts |
SeatedHut has it correct. I can usually tell the die polish hairlines from a cleaning pretty easy because the die polish lines DO NOT extend onto the devices.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19943 Posts |
Here's a good example of die polish hairlines:  |
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Valued Member
United States
138 Posts |
is it desirable to have these hairlines in the coin?
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Valued Member
 United States
77 Posts |
BadThad,
Are you referring to the light scratches in the field? I don't understand how one would be able to tell if it's from cleaning or from the die itself. Please explain.
Thanks,
Tom
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Quote:
is it desirable to have these hairlines in the coin? Nope, hairlines are considered to be damage and kill the value of a coin. Quote:
Are you referring to the light scratches in the field? I don't understand how one would be able to tell if it's from cleaning or from the die itself. Please explain Look at the photo- notice how the lines end at the edge of Lincoln's bust? If the coin was cleaned, you would see the lines going over the devices as well. The flat surface of a die is what gets refinished so the incuse devices are untouched. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19943 Posts |
Like biochemist said, hairlines can hurt the value as they do hurt the eye-appear. However, it depends on the location and severity. Hairlines in a focal-point field are almost always undesirable. I've had a few where the hairlines were only near the portrait and almost unnoticable, IMO, they didn't not effect the value of the coin, in fact, they looked pretty cool.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
A person should not confuse the hairlines on business strike coins with the reference to hairlines seen on proof coins .
in the grading process hairlines are more often refered to on the proof coins than they are on the circulation coins , most people will just call a circulated coin with incuse hairlines cleaned , and raised hairlines abraided die lines .
in either case cleaned incused hairlines , raised abraided die lines or hairlines on a proof coins mirrors regardless of type all affect the grade and value of the coin .
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,428 |
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Posted 12/12/2008 12:22 pm
