Die Breakdown. What causes the marks you see on coins?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by LostDutchman, Dec 7, 2012.

  1. AWORDCREATED

    AWORDCREATED Hardly Noticeable

    [​IMG]

    SF-Mint-Employee-Polishing-Proof-Die
     
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  3. AWORDCREATED

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    USMintPolishing
     
  4. torontokuba

    torontokuba Thread Crapper & Hijacker, TP please.

    They must have terminators programmed to polish coins.:) Love the old toothbrush.
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2014
  5. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Very good. Now try this one -
     
  6. AWORDCREATED

    AWORDCREATED Hardly Noticeable

    Perhaps well lubricated machines?

    [​IMG]
     
  7. AWORDCREATED

    AWORDCREATED Hardly Noticeable

    I wonder what year machines were first employed to do SOME of the polishing?
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2014
  8. AWORDCREATED

    AWORDCREATED Hardly Noticeable

    I didn't watch the vid in post #24 yet, but I assume it shows a machine working. I wouldn't be surprised if machines do do some of the work some of the time. I doubt that was always the case and it does not preclude hand work. Right? Are all the machines oriented the same way regards keys? Can it be inspected after one attempt and put into another machine with different orientation?
     
  9. AWORDCREATED

    AWORDCREATED Hardly Noticeable

    I notice the caption of the vid states machine polishing for die BLANKS.
     
  10. torontokuba

    torontokuba Thread Crapper & Hijacker, TP please.

    You're pretty inconsiderate with your photos and insinuations, plus, now you're just raining on my terminator theory, backed by CT authority and experience.:happy:

    I'm confused and don't know what to think. What models are those fat, slow and nerdy looking terminators?:D
     
  11. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Yeah, and I noticed the captions for your pictures referring to Proof coins, and only Proof coins, and about how, if needed, they are "touched up" by hand. I read all the articles found here - http://www.coinnews.net/tools/searc...url=www.coinnews.net/&ref=&ss=6563j8989433j17

    If you'll read them all you'll find that all the die blanks are polished by machine and the special collector coins and Proofs are touched up by hand when needed. You'll also find that most of these processes are new.

    The old die polishing machines worked pretty much just like the machine in the video I posted. As I have reported many times before my source for this information was a copy of The Numismatist published by the ANA in 1915. They used the same varying grades of diamond dust paste to polish dies back in the 1800's that they use today. And it was done by a machine just like it is done today.

    The end result is, neither the old or the new allow die polish lines to criss-cross because of the nature of the method.
     
  12. AWORDCREATED

    AWORDCREATED Hardly Noticeable

    About " die blanks ". Isn't that before the coin features are on the die?
     
  13. torontokuba

    torontokuba Thread Crapper & Hijacker, TP please.

    You are just full of insubordinate questions today.:joyful:
     
  14. AWORDCREATED

    AWORDCREATED Hardly Noticeable

    I am such a bad bad man :D

    How will I ever learn if I don't ask?
     
  15. torontokuba

    torontokuba Thread Crapper & Hijacker, TP please.

    I like the VAM "Polishing Lines" descriptions and photos under the following link, all referring to "Die Finishing Lines" or "Die Scratches", of course...

    http://www.vamworld.com/1921-P+Peace+VAM-1F

    I especially like the raised lines visible on the devices, the word "ONE" in this case...

    [​IMG]
     
  16. AWORDCREATED

    AWORDCREATED Hardly Noticeable

  17. torontokuba

    torontokuba Thread Crapper & Hijacker, TP please.

    Just read the "interwebs", remain devoid of independent thought and try to refrain from any questions. Remember, thinking too much just gives you a headache.

    [​IMG]

    P.S. You should really stop cleaning your coin so harshly.
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2014
  18. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Yes, but that is when the initial polishing is done. Die polish lines are not the result of the initial polishing, they result from secondary polishing.

    Secondary polishing occurs if dies are clashed, or if dies get too worn to be used any further in that condition. Many dies, even most, are used until they can be used no more and never even receive any secondary polishing.

    Typically die polish lines will only occur when the polishing process is rushed because the dies are needed or steps in the process are skipped. Those skipped steps being the use of the finer grades of diamond dust, the final steps if you will. It is only the courser grades of diamond dust that leave behind the lines we end up seeing on the coins. If the secondary polishing is done correctly and completely, we never see any die polish lines.
     
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