Here are some photos of a 1988-P Lincoln cent that has severe die polishing. A staff member of mine was looking through some coins today and ran across this beauty. It could easily be confused with circulation or cleaning as the lines flow across the coin in a confusing manner. Most graders will tell you that die polish lines run almost north and south usually from 11 O'clock to 5 O'clock. Almost always. If you look at the flow lines of this coin, you see that they run every which way. Most run horizonal. Really a neat look at die prep. One note: Look at how the lines run under the letters which indicate die prep.
I just love the study of numismatics For all you budding collectors out there, it doesn't take a monster coin with lots of value to be interesting. Each coin can tell a story if you take the time to learn it.
Looks like the die might have been touched up with an abraisive, such as a piece of emory cloth. Great visual, ND.
I have seen a couple coins like that before. I think I stupidly assumed that they had been cleaned. But after I looked at yours, I realized that the ones I had only had the lines in the fields and all of them were going the same way. Oh well, live and learn.
