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 Replies: 30 / Views: 641 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3330 Posts |
FEEDER MECHANISM DIE DAMAGE PATTERNS: 2018 TO PRESENT I have been studying Feeder Mechanism Die Damage Patterns and the types of Feeder Mechanisms in use at the US Mint in different time periods. Many folks have contributed to my efforts by providing photos of Die Damage for me to include in my Census. I make educational use of some of these photos with credit. I thank everyone for this support and for your insight, advice, and encouragement! I have prepared a series of articles in which I have attempted to organize and summarize my findings into an easy-to-use reference so that the most likely Feeder Mechanism causing a certain die damage pattern may be identified. The information is divided by time periods: {This is a highly condensed summary of a small section of the research I have been pursuing, periodically, for the last 2+ years.} • 1896 to 1945 in COINWEEK 2/19/2026 https://coinweek.com/feeder-mechani...s-1896-1945/ • 1945 to #8776;1990 COINWEEK 3/10/2026 https://coinweek.com/feeder-mechani...2%89%881990/ • #8776;1990 to 2018 COINWEEK 4/2/2026 • https://coinweek.com/feeder-mechani...-collectors/ • 2018 to present The current article in the series for 2018 to present: COINWEEK 4/7/2026 2018 to Present https://coinweek.com/feeder-mechani...-to-present/ |
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Moderator
 United States
187446 Posts |
Thank you for sharing the final installment!  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3330 Posts |
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Thank you for sharing the final installment! Thank YOU! |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
8724 Posts |
Once again, great work!
-makecents-
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3330 Posts |
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Once again, great work! Thank you! This completes the series of articles, but I suspect there will be more to learn in this area! |
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Moderator
United States
94636 Posts |
nice work Pete! Thank you. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3330 Posts |
Quote:
nice work Pete! Thank you. THANK YOU! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3169 Posts |
Excellent Pete! I read all the articles a few times, didn't know about the arc. It was interesting to see all the different feeders. Found this 2025-P yesterday.  |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
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Found this 2025-P yesterday Very nice! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3330 Posts |
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Excellent Pete! I read all the articles a few times, didn't know about the arc.
It was interesting to see all the different feeders.
Found this 2025-P yesterday. A nice example! Thank you! I will add it to my census! If I should use it for educational purposes, I will give you credit! Some scrape curvature is detectable, too!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7504 Posts |
Excellent installation, great reads .
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3330 Posts |
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Excellent installation, great reads . Thank you. The research continues... |
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New Member
United States
19 Posts |
Hello, I was wandering what might have caused the die scratches on this 1917 P Buffalo. Could these die scratches be the result of feeder fingers? Thanks very much for the information!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3330 Posts |
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Hello, I was wandering what might have caused the die scratches on this 1917 P Buffalo. Could these die scratches be the result of feeder fingers? Thanks very much for the information! Thank you for this image! Feeder Mechanism Die Damage during this time is almost non-existent! I have only seen such damage on a cent and I have no examples of nickels! The parallel nature of these features suggests that the are from a feeder mechanism. The most likely source would be the mechanism designed by Oberlin Smith and patented in 1909. Here is a schematic:  The most probable cause may be the gripper (L1;) described in Smith's 1909 patent. In that design, loosening at the feeder arm connection point (L) could allow misalignment of the gripper point (L2;). Such misalignment increases the likelihood of the component scraping across the die face. I will keep your image in my census and if I should use it for educational purposes, I will give you credit. I may show it around asking folks to check their Buffalos! More detail on this time period here: https://coinweek.com/feeder-mechani...s-1896-1945/Edited by Pete2226
04/08/2026 1:11 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6449 Posts |
2018-P dime, field restricted strike through on both faces, probably grease spread by feeder fingers: https://goccf.com/t/489162Remind me which years of nickels we are paying attention to? I believe we were starting at 1990 and trying to work backwards? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3330 Posts |
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Remind me which years of nickels we are paying attention to? I believe we were starting at 1990 and trying to work backwards? I am uncertain what you are referencing? As a result of the previous post, I am especially interested in any possible examples on Buffalos. |
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Replies: 30 / Views: 641 |
Posted 04/07/2026 2:34 pm
