I agree with the "rusted die" theory. Even though the mint polishes rusted dies, the rust in the deepest recess's of the die leave small pit marks or holes which causes the markings to be raised on the coin. Especially noticed in the legend, date and moto portion as these are the deepest points in the die.
The only problem with that theory is that the fields (Where the die wear is showing) is on the outside of the die. If the die were polished, the fields would be the only area that would be buffed. The devices are deeper into the die and the polishing would not affect that part, just the fields. Die flow/wear always flows to the rims.
Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Coin Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Family- all rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Coin Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited. Contact Us | Advertise Here | Privacy Policy / Terms of Use