Do any of you guys have a coin that shows an example of what "lint" from the polishing rag looks like on a proof coin? I read an article about it but I cant find a single image example. Im super curious. The indentation from "lint" on the die would be an "error" correct??? Wouldnt it just look like a scratch???
They don't use rags to polish the dies for proof coins. Read the link below. http://www.coinnews.net/2013/10/04/how-the-philadelphia-mint-polishes-dies-to-make-proof-coins/ Chris
Thanks Chris! I hate that I cant trust anything I read. I'd post the article but its pointless. thank you for the clarification. Maybe thats why I couldnt find an examples to look at online!
To polish them no they don't, but they do use them to wipe the surface occasionally during striking. There was a video a little while back on youtube that showed the coining of I believe proof silver eagles. It showed about a half dozen cycles then they stopped the press and the operator rached in with a rag and wiped the faces of the dies, then they resumed striking.
The use of rags to clean certain areas of the dies and equipment can be likened to using rags to clean a bathroom. But, that has nothing to do with the process of making the dies in preparation for producing proof coins. "Now, it’s just a matter of using three varying grades of paste-like diamond dust and rotary tools to achieve the mirror-like affect. Three different grits of diamond dust are used in polishing dies. Alberto applying diamond dust compound to a proof die. A grade of the diamond dust is added to the die by hand, and the polishing begins through the abrasive contact of the compound and rotary tip." Chris
