Can A Coin Be Both DDD And Also Super Well Struck?

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 544
Brandmeister Pillar of the Community United States 6495 Posts	Posted 07/07/2023 02:06 am This is more of a mechanical question than anything. Can a die suffer from severe deterioration doubling and lettering erosion, and yet still strike a superb-looking coin with a great obverse cameo? I ask because today I ran across the third or fourth 1960s nickel that had superb near-mint luster, a very deep strike, and every appearance of a crazy early die state. But when I get it under a scope, the lettering sides are pitted into DDD, the major devices have a deterioration halo around the edge, and all the evidence is that the die is just weathered into the grave. Can that be a result of extreme die polishing or some other interference? * Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. * Report this Post to the Staff

Dearborn Moderator United States 95550 Posts	Posted 07/07/2023 2:46 pm Interesting question - can you post up an image of one of them, so we can see what it going on with them? Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
nick10 Pillar of the Community United States 3207 Posts	Posted 07/07/2023 2:57 pm to me "good strike" means the coin received a strong impression from the die, even if that die is worn Report this Post to the Staff
EricH Valued Member United States 140 Posts	Posted 07/07/2023 3:39 pm I would say well struck means the full potential of the die was met whatever the dies limitations are. Report this Post to the Staff
Brandmeister Pillar of the Community United States 6495 Posts	Posted 07/07/2023 4:30 pm Ok, here is an example. This 1968-D is lustrous, deeply struck, barely a scratch on it. Almost looks like someone cut it out of an uncirculated set and dropped it into the Coin Wrapping Machine. But when you get close with the mini-scope, the numbers and letters are chewed down. You can also make out a thin halo around Monticello and Jefferson. I would call it Die Deterioration, except the coin looks fabulous. Normally if the lettering looks like that under magnification, the coin looks sad and faded to the naked eye. I thought it might be a thick planchet, but the mass is precisely 5.00g. Compare it to the run-of-the-mill 1973 nickel that came out of the same roll. The 1968-D coin on the left is so deeply struck that they don't even look the same. Report this Post to the Staff
SamCoin Pillar of the Community United States 3237 Posts	Posted 07/07/2023 6:53 pm Answer is yes, although I suspect TPGs (who don't include die state in the grading process much to the chagrin on error and variety collectors) often conflate the two. In their purest form, though, strike should only be about how well an individual coin was imprinted by the dies, regardless of the amount of wear on the die at the time of the strike, while die state would only be about how long the die was in use irrespective of the quality of the strike. Report this Post to the Staff
BStrauss3 Pillar of the Community United States 4590 Posts	Posted 07/08/2023 08:24 am What is DDD? -----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ Report this Post to the Staff
SamCoin Pillar of the Community United States 3237 Posts	Posted 07/08/2023 09:47 am @BStrauss3 click the hyperlink for an example and description. It stands for Die Deterioration Doubling. Report this Post to the Staff
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