Quick question for the roll hunters here as I figure you all might be best to answer this as you seem them repeatedly in the wild. I notice the 'ST' of the 'In God We Trust ' motto looks to me to be rather flattened on many coins in the collection I have. Would this be the result of some type of counting or sorting means rather than something relative to the dies? I see it repeatedly and used to think they were some kind of oddity but it seems too repeated to be unique. Appreciate the input in advance.
I could but it's prevalent repeatedly on them. I'll be happy to post a few if no one can identify with my observations. Thanks you the input.
It is very common to see those letters "flattened". Most often it is due to a poor strike, circulation wear, the Ring Of Death (pictured) or from a grease filled die(also pictured).
The 95 was the one I'm referring to. Seems very common on Kennedy half dollars from the sixties. What mostly causes what I see in your 95?
The 'ring of death' refers to the ever popular coin sorter/counter I presume? Seems even without the ring, many somewhat flatten the 'st' in 'trust' (which is what I was trying to ascertain). Next question is, how does it affect overall value? Forgive me if this question is obvious too but I'm simply trying to place an overall value of my hoard of Kennedys (aside from the obvious silver value). Thanks for the input.
Yes, that ring is from the coin machines. A strong, clearly struck coin is preferable to letters that are "mushy" when looking at it from a numismatic standpoint. If your hoard is circulated it will not affect it. If you have mint state or proof coins you plan to have graded then it will have some effect on the assigned grade. You may research errors and check your coins to see if you have any of them.
Thanks for the answer. I do research errors and varieties (too many). Wonder why the 'st' in particular seems to be the focal point of counters? Have found many 'errors' when it comes to Kennedys, however given my poor ability to distinguish MD from true DD, who knows how many are actually errors. Guess my son will find out one day.
"Ring of Death" - Coin Wrapper machine such as this ... though it does not show you how it rolls the paper .. but it does as you can see as the insert is a straight roll of paper. When it rolls the paper onto itself to keep the coins in the metal roller thing scraps against the outside coin and creates that circular mark. this may show you the process using a more manual machine
Yeah the ring of death seems obvious to me but the 'st' consistently on those particular letters coin after coin seemed less obvious. Anyway, appreciate the response and didn't mean to beat the subject to death. I was just looking for the definitive cause.
It Is The Location On The coin. Look at a lot of any denomination and you will see the features near the coins rim will often be mushy. I think it is a strike issue more than anything. Where there is just not quite enough metal or pressure to firm the outside letters completely. Get the cherry pickers' guide and it will help a lot. I used to look at every one under the scope but now I just focus on known errors.
Thanks and yes I do own the Cherrypickers book. Again, it's the 'st' in trust that seems to be the repeated spot. I guess it's hard for me to imagine the counters hanging up or excessively wearing those letters in particular that I am not understanding. This is what got me to thinking about die problems and the like. I hold onto 40%ers in particularly mainly because I think so many have melted them that original mint values have to be way off.
