I have a two part question regarding this 1955 (P) Nickel. First, I am not completely convinced that the weak and deformed devices are caused by greased dies. What is that what you all see especially around the mouth & chin? Second, if this is a grease issue, how many strikes does it take for this to clear up? The reason I'm asking is that I have another 39 in the roll that look exactly like it. I would think that there would be some sort of difference in appearance as the grease would move around or disperse once struck? Could this be a defective die or something else? This was from an unopened shotgun roll that is supposed to be UNC but with this going on, it's hard to tell. What do you see???
At first glance I see a ghost (indirect image transfer) that gives the shape of Jefferson on the reverse. Other things need to be looked at closer.
First, let me correct the idea that some missing devices are the result of a "greased die". What happens is that grease and debris (dust & dirt particles) build up in the recesses of the die, and continual strikes compact more grease and debris and cause it to build up until the recess is completely filled. It is at this point that the device completely disappears when a planchet is struck. The idea that a device disappears because of a "greased die" should be more correctly termed the result of a "grease-filled die" or "grease and debris-filled die". It's just that some people are lazy when typing the description. ~ Chris
But what you are seeing at the mouth, below the jaw, near the rim both in front and behind the bust, possibly along the left rim on the reverse are all the result of severe die wear not grease fill. It is also contributing the mushyness of all the inscriptions.
IMO everything I see with your coin is a result of being struck by a very worn die. (Die Deterioration). This is a good explanation: http://www.error-ref.com/?s=progressive+indirect+design+transfer
To me this coin looks to have been struck with worn out dirty dies. Under the chin area it looks like some grease and mint debris was built up on the die. When this happens the die can still strike many identical or close to identical coins before the build up fall free off the die. My two best coins , well anyway the ones I like the most is two Minnesota state quarters that were struck with dies that had build up in round spots on the die and looks just like a finale in a fireworks display with the sunken in round areas coming out of the trees and going way up high on the reverse side of the quarters. On the obverse is one big round sunken in area on both coins in the side of Washington's head. These were the only two I found in a full box of new quarters.
