Lathe Marks

coop · Expert Member

When searching for markers on coins you often find lathe marks on the cheek and ear area on the obverse. These are those circular marks left over from die preperation. These have been used as markers as they are not usually common. They were left undisturbed by the hubbing process. The other day I found one that caught my eye on the reverse in the bays next to the statue and prepaired an image to post. But didn't get to it. Today I found an even stronger example and thought I would post both of them to show what I'm talking about.

I guess if your looking, you will find something, even if it is not collectable.. Rolling Eyes

murphy · Senior Member

Nice. I've seen one or two of them. Do you think they could ever be collectable?

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

Now that is neat Coop. In all my searching, I have not found any thing similar to that. As far as being collectible, error collectors have odd tastes at times (nothing against you people who do collect errors, I just cant get into the clips, off-centers, BIEs, etc.) and I am willing to bet that it would sell for at the least $10.00 on Ebay.

Got a box of mixed circulated today and have already pulled a 1987D-1MM-003 and another that I will be posting on variety new finds. Somethging new with the "bars".

Nice finds Coop.

WAVYSTEPS2003

coppercoins · Site Admin

Somewhere in this mess I have a 1996 cent that shows similar marks on the entire field of the obverse, and they are strong enough and deep enough to see with the naked eye. I'll eventually find that coin again.

Bob P · Site Admin

I have found that the obverse and reverse of a fair amount of 1983 cents show these lathe marks. Almost looks like a spider web. I kinda like them.

coppercoins · Site Admin

And another thing I forgot to mention before...

Coop's pictures are definitely the result of lathe marks, but there are also examples out there - many of them - with concentric (circular) die scratches that converge somewhere near the center of the design on both the obverse and reverse of coins. The difference between circular die scratches and lathe marks is that the lathe marks show even spacing and are perfectly round. Concentric die scratches are simply swirling die scratches that have a radial center. They are not evenly spaced, of even depth, and do not create such a perfect bullseye pattern.

murphy · Senior Member

I found one that I had put back because of its lathe marks.

coop · Expert Member

Sounds like your coin Chuck! Found this subject interesting because of knowing what caused it. Its always nice to be able to explain what we find, even if we don't collect them. The two I found were so strong that they caught my eye. So traing your eye to see what is NOT Normal helps us to find things that are collecatable. Keep on looking and you will find them.

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

When talking about these lathe marks, I am almost sure that they are not being caused by the recucing lathe, for it would be seen on virtually ever coin minted that year for that denomination. So, what lathe is producing these circular lines and what is its purpose? I know that when a die is finished being hubbed, it is sent for machining to rid it of the extra girth that occurs during the hubbing process, but that lathing is on the sides of the die.

Does anyone have a guess why this is happening?

WAVYSTEPS2003

coop · Expert Member

Well I've never been there, but I would guess the last shaping of the die before the hubbing process. The hubbing didn't remove these marks when pressed. The detail of the lathe marks were left by the reducing and perhaps not sanded or smoothed before hubbing leaving the remaining marks. Just my idea, but I wish I could have seen the die making process and the striking process to see how it was really done. Probably someday an emplyee may divulge this is a book. He could call it: How I really made Money! I would buy it for the insiders view of the process. But he is probably sworn to not to reveal this information..

GarryN · Expert Member

Eagle Eye occasionally has an Indian Cent for sale that has the concentric lathe lines. Its the 1864 Bronze cent, Snow 11. He does not have one now. But there is a pic in a Stacks catalog that unfortunately does not show the lines. Snow has also said he does not know how the lines got there.

http://www.stacks.com/viewcat.php?auction=ST0506&heading=24120&headinglevel=3