If you can see these, there are many raised spikes across the reverse of this cent that are completely behind all lettering and building. Nothing to report on the obverse. Any suggestions on what caused this and what it is called? Thank so much.
This is a good example of a planchet having many lines on it before striking. In this case, I see lines running from 5:00 to 11:00 and more lines running from 8:00 to 2:00. In both cases, the lines are interrupted by enough elements of the design, and in the right places to indicate that they existed before strike. During the strike, the metal flows a lot in certain areas, and not much in others. This is especially true where a lot of material has to change "elevation" abruptly to flow within the recesses of the dies. Consequently, the lines are obliterated in those areas where significant metal flow takes place, yet remain where little change is required for the dies to impart the design upon the coin. Even many otherwise knowledgeable dealers fail to give this phenomenon the time of day, and jump to the conclusion that such lines necessarily represent cleaning - especially if the lines show up on the devices . . . a critical error. There are many designs having wide open areas in the devices where the lines are not wiped out by metal flow, and because they remain on high points on the design, they automatically evoke the opinion that the coin has been cleaned. For those who contest this position, consider for a moment that this is exactly why adjustment marks on early silver and gold coinage are somewhat less prominent in areas of a coin where the metal had to flow more to fill the dies. They don't always disappear completely in those areas, largely because adjustment marks were wider and deeper than the marks we're discussing, but they often get narrower and shallower. A prominent member of CoinTalk disagreed with me on this subject sometime in the past several weeks, and I didn't have the time or energy to duke it out with him, so I let the issue go . . . I should probably have addressed it at that time, but now is better than never. Please bear in mind that, while these lines are as-struck, and not post mint damage (cleaning), beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the value of this and similar coins may well be affected, depending on how extensive and prominent the lines are.
Quite plausible for the lines running from 5:00 to 11:00, but not for the lines running from 8:00 to 2:00.
Thank you all for the feedback and help. Just posted another, a quarter with clashes on the mountain (Utah) and in front of the left facing train and left mountain.
