One Way To Spot When An Edge Was Applied

In the days before the three die coining press, coins were edged in a separate step from the strike. In most (but not all) cases, the coin blanks were edged BEFORE the coin was struck. This was done for two reasons:

1. Before the coin blank was struck it was round. After it was struck in on open press - it was often struck OUT OF ROUND. It is actually much easier to edge a perfectly round piece of metal as opposed to one even slightly out of round.
2. The act of edging caused the edge of the blank to swell (thicken) which is referred to as "UPSETTING" the blank. The extra thickness near the rim allows the design at the edges of the die to transfer properly. A perfectly flat planchet will have weak margins.

These two practical matters caused the Spanish colonial mints to adopt PRE-STRIKE edge application almost universally after 1750. Therefore a coin with the edge applied AFTER the strike is a NON-MINT product.

Here is one that you can easily spot in the scan.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Spanish-Colonia...mZ8415291325

If you notice the way the light is picked up along the edge of the coin you can see undulations caused by the application of the Lotus Flower edge design.

Based on that observation alone - I would be willing to bet that this coin is a cast copy edged after it was cast to obliterate the trace of the mold seam.

Anyone care to comment on the Grading service here?