mystery Lincoln 198 - ??? die fill or other surface issue

coppersleuth · Advanced Member

Hello. No big deal here but I was curious what might have caused this. The final digit of the date is not readable, as well as the FG on the exact opposite side of the coin. Even though it is a 20 year old coin, I do not beleive the surface was altered by file or acid, or simply worn in that area, etc... What got me curious is this affect was on exact opposite side from each other. Notice the final pic of the FG area on reverse - almost like a ghost image when pictured at that lighting angle.

Thoughts as to cause are welcome. Maybe grease or something at time of minting?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/437955336_9b8851f5e1.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/154/437955338_97d52e01cd.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/437955350_e5b3420901.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/437955352_76d618ca2c.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/174/437955354_4c6d078790.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/437955358_609a1fedb7.jpg

Dick · Expert Member

mCoppersleuth, my first thought would concur with yours, I.E.,, grease, or something. The fact that it happened on the PHYSICAL position on the REV/OBV, is just co-incidince, I believe. Check the overlays for the Memorials, and you will note that the date, and the designers initials, are on opposie "ends" of the coin. The date has only a very small part that would correspond to the reverse, location., and that would be the top of the roof area of the memorial building. The Designers initials are completely in the clear, on the OBV. The marks you see appear to be scratches from any number of things, including polishing, from a clash, or other "damage" that might have been done there. Hope this helps.
Dick

Steven · Expert Member

I hardly know anything about the striking process but I will take a guess and say probably a pressure issue with the strike. Weak strike during adjustment????????

Steven

coop · Expert Member

I can't see all of the coin, but I'm not thinking it is a striking issue as the deeper parts of the die formed the Memorial and I'm guessing the bust. If they are fully formed, then it is not a striking issue. There appears to be scratches in the areas that are weaker, but I'm guessing a strike through error such as grease. All weakness seem to be on the outside edges (Unless not shown in the photo) that is the easier place for grease to accumulate. JMOHO

eagames · Expert Member

Assuming the coin is around 1983 there were a lot of 1983 cents made with no F or no FG because they polished it off of the die. There might be others from nearby years too. So the coin might be one of those and the last part of the date was grease filled. It could also be from a weak strike or even underweight planchet but that should show in other places.

See 83 in Kens list:

http://koinpro.tripod.com/ErrorVarietyList.htm

coppersleuth · Advanced Member

Here are three more pics to show the entire coin front and back, as some of you have indicated would be helpful. Note that most of the coin still has nice bold strike and not overly worn.

I also noticed (and provided a close-up view here) that the "TY" in LIBERTY is noticeably weaker in strike than the other letters LIBER

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/438253955_14ef5c1cf7.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/170/438253945_7b3aba011b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/173/438253949_a99bae686e.jpg

coop · Expert Member

Looks like a full strike. Just something blocking the deeper parts of the die to me. I got a newer one the other day that I saved.