A real puzzle? Is this a struck thru thread or a scratch?

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by Insider, Sep 27, 2021.

  1. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    How can I tell if this is a struck thru thread mint error or some scratches?

    I'm not interested in any opinion or guess that does not come with the REASON. Please let me know WHAT YOU SEE to reach your opinion. Thanks!

    IMG_5713.JPG +
     
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  3. CamaroDMD

    CamaroDMD [Insert Clever Title] Supporter

    My first thought is strike through.

    I'm going to call this a "defect" in my explanation. If this defect is a scratch, that would apply something was dragged across the surface of the coin (or the coin dragged across something) to create it. If that was the case, it would have moved metal and created the defect. I see missing metal...but I don't see where it went. If it was a scratch, there would be a raised lip of metal around the defect. Think of a snow plow on the road. The plow pushes the show on the bank...resulting in raised snow on the bank relative to the area around it. I don't see any metal that was pushed up on the "bank" of this defect. Therefore, I sthought strike through.

    On top of that, I struggle to think of a way that a scratch with this pattern could occur. It looks a lot more like a piece of "fuzz" or something that was struck into the coin.
     
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  4. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    Those look identical to the scratches that some of our painted goods arrive in when a nail was driven too deep into the shipping container. I would surmise the coin was closed up in a cabinet that was moved. That cabinet had a fastener of some kind penetrating into the space that put random scratched onto the coin when the cabinet was moved.
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2021
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  5. expat

    expat Remember you are unique, just like everyone else Supporter

    I would say struck through fibres. They appear to be incuse and have the same patina as other lit areas, to their immediate right seems to be a bit of grease with it, and further to the right is a lone, curved stray fibre.
    Oh, and a nice die crack above it by the way
     
  6. Lehigh96

    Lehigh96 Toning Enthusiast

    I think it is a strike though. If you look at where the lines intersect, there are clearly overlapping lines which would be consistent with threads that were on top of each other before being struck. If these were scratches, I don't think you would see that clear "overlapping" pattern, rather they should merge at the intersections.

    As an aside, what is that over to the left? There is a scratch that connects the strike through horizontally left to something in the field. Is that a die clash? What series of coin are we look at here?
     
  7. dwhiz

    dwhiz Collector Supporter

    it's scratched struck thru:D
     
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  8. KBBPLL

    KBBPLL Well-Known Member

    I'm going with a third option - die scratches. From the lighting and shadow on the other elements, they appear to be raised. I've seen very similar on some Canadian specimen coins.
    1946_Canada_50c_die_scratches.jpg
     
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  9. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    I would hate to make a statement without seeing the entire coin. There is a die crack at the top of the photo. Show the whole coin for better responses.
     
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  10. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    I don't show the entire coin for the reasons I've expressed several times. The main reason is always YOU DON'T NEED IT!

    This is not one of my trick questions. After I tell you what you are looking at and how to tell, I will put anyone on ignore that whines about needing to see more, etc. Any valid questions/disagreements from folks who do not understand what I write are welcome.

    I like the answers and the explanations given so far. Remember that ALL of us are learning things on CT. Perhaps, members who think it is a scratch can debate with the struck thru group until I give my opinion. I want to let some more folks comment.
     
  11. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    Scratches from a staple in an adjacent holder.
     
  12. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    Yea, you should show the whole coin, but you are incorrigible on that point. I don’t grade with a microscope.

    My vote is scratches. If you could come close enough, at a different angle, you would probably see the displaced metal ridges. Also the bottom of the trough is bright, which suggests freshly done.

    Even if it is a struck though, this coin would be a firm “pass” for me.
     
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  13. CoinCorgi

    CoinCorgi Tell your dog I said hi!

    If the shiny lines on the coin are raised, it is struck thru. (just seeing if you are paying attention).

    If the shiny lines are incuse, it is scratched.

    Terrible picture as usual therefore I cannot tell if the lines are raised or incuse.

    Show the whole coin you 'tard.
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2021
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  14. masterswimmer

    masterswimmer A Caretaker, can't take it with me

    Scratches.

    If it was done during the minting process it would have toned at the same rate as the rest of the coin. The fact that the scratches are so shiny reveals to me that it's a fresh, PMD occurrence. The difference between the toning is so stark I'd be knocked over with a feather to hear it's a strike through.
     
  15. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    My poor depth perception says it’s partly raised and partly recessed.
     
  16. cpm9ball

    cpm9ball CANNOT RE-MEMBER

    @Insider

    I agree with this. Furthermore, the fine lines to the left of the anomaly appear to be scratches that have toned over while in circulation. If this anomaly was the result of a strikethrough, why hasn't it darkened in the same manner?
     
  17. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    johnmilton, posted: "Yea, you should show the whole coin, but you are incorrigible on that point. I don’t grade with a microscope."

    :rolleyes: I didn't ask for a grade.
    I want to discuss the evidence that proves with 100% certainty that it is a struck thru thread!
     
  18. KBBPLL

    KBBPLL Well-Known Member

    Yeah good luck with that. He feels that only a single mysterious microscopic image is important to anything.
     
  19. CamaroDMD

    CamaroDMD [Insert Clever Title] Supporter

    I so badly wanted to say this...but I didn't want to hurt someone's feelings (I've dealt with a lot irritating people today so CT is my zen space today). Thanks for saying what I couldn't. LOL.
     
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  20. cpm9ball

    cpm9ball CANNOT RE-MEMBER

    Why don't you use the "Reply" or "Quote" option when responding to someone's comment? Is it a way that you can sneak in and out the back door without being noticed? How in the heck is someone supposed to follow your train of thought if you keep hiding in the bushes?
     
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  21. Steven Shaw

    Steven Shaw Well-Known Member

    IT'S SCRATCHED
     
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