Inside Washington's earlobe the area is flat. Then jumping over the lobe, to the east along the hairline and upper jaw, it is also flat? I hope the images convey this. I know a little about dies, but I cannot figure out this occurred. Not only are the areas flat, but they show striations (polishing lines?). Can anyone assist. What is/did happen to this 1996 P quarter? Attached are two images, the full obverse, and a detailed shot (I hope). thanks, GSDykes
Just thinking. Seeing all the die stress lines, perhaps, the flatness of the planchet remains in these areas, due to a low pressure strike? On the die this area (the flat aresa) should be recessed, allowing the metal to "ooze" into the earlobe area, but failed to do so? I am puzzled. Open to suggestions. Is this just sloppy striking, or have I got something of value here? GSDykes (now in Washington state)
I'm inclined to agree with the OP in that this may have been due to the pressure of the strike. If this occurred, the flat surface of the planchet would be unaffected. On the other hand, if it had been due to over-polishing, it would be hard to imagine that the innermost recess in this part of the die could be polished flat without affecting the surrounding area. Chris
Clearly die polishing. Yes they are in the center of the detail area, but they are also the lowest relief areas of the detail. In the case of a weak strike those would be the FIRST areas to show detail, not the higher relief areas around them. But being the lowest relief areas they are the first ones to be polished away as the fields of the die are ground down because they are the first areas to become the same level as the fields.
Why would that be so hard to believe? This occurs on all denominations and typically, weak strikes show up on the outer areas of the coins. 2007 Montana 1974-D IKE I've got a picture of a Jefferson Presidential Dollar Around here somewhere but the point is that, while these "flattened" areas are the lowest on the coins surface, this means that they are the "highest" points on the die's surface and as such, are subject to abrading.
Weak strikes show up on the devices of the coin rather than the fields. Look at Liberty's hair around the ear or the breast feathers of the eagle on the Morgan dollar. These are supposed to be the higher points of the coins surface and the lower points of the dies surface. Think of a bowl with a round bottom inside as the recess of a die. The bottom of the bowl on the outer side represents the planchet. A weak strike would leave the planchet untouched, or flat. Chris
Thanks for the replies. I appreciate you fellow thinkers out there. I learn a lot going through these emails-forums. I bet many of these replies and photos, collected, would make a neat book/publication for all sorts of interested numismatics. Again thanks, Gary
