1921 Peace $ mystery mark

This mark below the Y has been plaguing me since I bought it 20 years ago. At first I thought it was a strike through of a wire clipping due to its sharpness and its point, but also think it could just be a very clean and well placed hit. I know it's hard to see from this 20 year old scan but I haven't mastered getting a clear picture using my cameras or cell phone, but will keep trying. I'd like to hear opinions.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Looks like a HIT to me .

 

Thanks. I was leaning that way.

 

You’re right, just a very clean and well placed hit…very nice ‘21 Peace…Spark

 

I think it is a strike thru. Why do I say that? The clues on the coin. What are they?

 

I see a scrape which pushed material toward the 7 o'clock direction and formed a arrow point. PMD.

 

My thinking was that a hit most likely would have affected the Y or the rim also. Also no evidence of reeding in the mark.

 

I think so, too, as there's no damage to the tip of the Y.

 

Look at the surface of the mark. Now, someone put in words (describe) what you see as it is the biggest clue of all!

 

It has the same surface texture throughout.

 

Nothing is raised around the area affected (no displaced metal) - strike through therefore.

 

agreed

 

The mark is the same color as the coins surface, there is no defining "pushed up" look to the edges and the right tip of the Y bisects a tiny piece of the mark.
So, IMO, most likely a strike through

 

Interesting...very interesting. I have two 1928-S...one graded and one not...the one not was rejected many years ago by PCGS because of a similar-looking mark in the same spot as this...in the days PCGS never explained or slabbed anything of "details"...just returned it in a "body" bag. I'm sure because there's no other distractions or anything else on the otherwise white, MS coin. The one difference is that there's no "arrow"-like tip to the mark, and it's at a 90-degree different angle, running from the bottom tip of the Y, down and over to the rim at about 4 o'clock to the rim. Wish I had photos...I may try and get one to turn out with enough clarity and focus, size, cropping, et al, to satisfy all you photo-fanatics/aficionados.

 

You guys got it. The main clue is the surfaces inside the mark are natural. They are a slightly different color than the field because the die did not touch that area but did touch the surrounding surface (mint luster). The edges of the mark are not pushed up. When something hits a coin and goes into its surface, the mark usually starts off bright.

 

I don’t see any disruption in luster, toning, or any movement of metal. That suggests to me this occurred when the coin was struck.

 

There IS a disruption of luster. Do you see the two colors? The inside is a different color so it stands out.

 

I guess I mis-stated what I meant. Usually when I see a hit it is more shiny…I don’t see that here.

Yes, the area inside is slightly darker and has less luster.

 

No signs of it being a scrape and no displaced metal anywhere. It is circulated but not near enough for the coins detail to west off all the displaced metal from a scrape or a gouge. That’s a strike through and it should be sent in for attribution to that affect.

 

You made you made your own point by yourself! That my friend is EXACTLY what to look for. Areas on a coin struck thru something are ORIGINAL, slightly a DIFFERENT COLOR, and often show an IMPRINT of what caused them.