This is another one of my inheritance coins, not the best condition as you can see. My question is regarding the mark above the eagles wing under the beak. It is not a scratch, believe me I've checked and rechecked and had others check to make sure. But what is it? (extra Ray, I wish) but not a scratch.. Scouts honor lol
If the line is raised the only thing I can think of would be a Clashed Die . Sometimes dies get hammered together without a coin in between them. The force of this can cause part of the design from one die to be pressed into the other. This impression will now show up as a raised area on coins hammered by this die until it is retired or polished out. The mark on your coin looks to line up with the back of the neck on the obverse. This site will explain more about Clashed Dies. The link below is to their dollar coin overlay page. Take a look at the Peace Dollar. http://www.maddieclashes.com/dollar-overlays/
Don't worry! You're not hallucinating. It is a die clash. There are numerous clashes on the eagle's shoulder listed at VAMWorld, but it will be easier for you to compare them with the coin in hand. I would think this is the most likely. http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/1923-S_VAM-1E1 Chris
Thank you Chris! It's good to actually have found something.. My eyes are beginning to cross looking at all these coins.
Be thankful you aren't searching $50 Mint bags of Lincoln cents. It took me 4-1/2 years to go through one 1980 bag because it gave me so many headaches. Chris
Also want to say thanks to Montcollector for the link it was very useful. This Peace dollar will be going to the show with me in January for sure!
Nothing of monetary value, but I did end up with 228 "Y" clashes that came from the same die and a few odds & ends strikethroughs. Chris