What happened to this coin?

I don't understand how this coin can be so scratched up yet the rim was not affected. Could this be a counting wheel mark?

 

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It was ground down a little by something?.

 

Looks like PMD or post mint damage .I don't see hairline scratches indicative of counting wheel marks .
Counting wheel damage occurs as the coin passes under the counting wheel and usually appears as a highly "buffed" area on the coin.

 

Don't look at me! I didn't do it!

Wouldn't a counting wheel also affect the rim?

 

WHen I sharpen my fillet knife it looks just like that

 

What is the evidence of this?

 

That's the first thing that came to mind for me. If the planchet or planchet stock had some damage in the area, the act of going through the upsetting mill and being struck would wipe out damage in the higher rim area while it remains in the field.

 

Are you sure they're scratches?

 

They cut into the coin's letters.

 

It appears to be PMD. I would think if it was on the planchet, the marks would be weaker in the fields. It’s obviously struck by a worn die, evident by the flow lines. It’s not an abraded die because the devices have heavy abrasions. This makes me think that it was some small rotary tool:

 

Something like this:

 

I know die polishing wouldn't normally reach into those crevasses on the dies but I had to risk asking to be sure as these are only photos we're evaluating.

 

Crevasses are in glaciers!

 

I do agree with ToughCOINS. Damage occurred before strike.
What is the coins weight? And what does the reverse look like?

 

Wise guy.

crev·ice
/ˈkrevəs/
noun
noun: crevice; plural noun: crevices
a narrow opening or fissure, especially in a rock or wall.

cre·vasse
/krəˈvas/
noun
plural noun: crevasses
a deep open crack, especially one in a glacier.

 

What would you expect from a Virgo?

 

That is what also confuses me. Has anyone offered a reasonable explanation?

 

No. This is still a live one. I still think it's not implausible this happened at the Mint, it's some kind of touch-up.