Does anyone have a picture to compare hairlines from cleaning vs natural lines on coin due to die polishing (preferable for lincoln cents). Thankyou.
The simple answer is: luster. Hairlines from polishing destroy original cartwheel luster or "bloom" or "halo effect", while die polish lines struck onto a coin do not.
Die polishing, filing, grinding, depending on the years, will leave a raised line on the lowest portions of the coin , often appearing to stop or pass under devices such as letters, date, etc. "Hairlines" due to cleaning and other PMD will be incluse ( into the surface of the coin ) and will pass over or on the devices. Very minor cases on a flat field can be mistaken for one another without good optical devices. I have had NGC detail a coin for cleaning/hairlines when it was die lines. Jim
Die polish lines are raised on the coin, hairlines are incuse on the coin. Die polish lines do not criss cross each other, hairlines often do criss cross each other. Where it gets confusing is when you have die polish lines, hairlines, and die scratch lines - all on the same coin.
