Posted 07/25/2011 10:59 pm
from PCGS :
Quote:
What are tooling and smoothing? Tooling is retouching details of the coin designs with a engraving tool to bring out details lost through wear or strike weakness. Metal is moved in the process. Small digs near the design element that have been raised can be seen under high magnification. Tooling is limited to the design elements, not to the fields.
Smoothing is generally limited to the fields and involves smoothing out rough, pitted or encrusted areas. The color of the patina is usually slightly inconsistent, making this detectable.
What are tooling and smoothing? Tooling is retouching details of the coin designs with a engraving tool to bring out details lost through wear or strike weakness. Metal is moved in the process. Small digs near the design element that have been raised can be seen under high magnification. Tooling is limited to the design elements, not to the fields.
Smoothing is generally limited to the fields and involves smoothing out rough, pitted or encrusted areas. The color of the patina is usually slightly inconsistent, making this detectable.
http://www.pcgs.com/articles/articl...d=105&type=1
