Dad's 1909 VDB Lincoln - Sharp Rims, Grainy - Matte Proof?

I finally got better pics and although the MPL stuff has been addressed when I originally posted, I still wanted to share these pics as the close-ups are pretty amazing!! Each pic catches something a little different (this was my first time doing close-ups of a coin so I'm in awe - borrowed a Nikon & used the macro setting.. it took me forever to get past the blurry shots

I have a few questions in general:

• What causes the heavy vertical polishing type lines throughout?
• Do I refer to the raised line on top of "we trust" as, a die line or scratch?
• The small dark spots, are these what are referred to as carbon?
• The VDB is polished heavily, with a slash up through it, is this common or possibly a marker of some type?

Thank you & still learning tons!
Lori

 

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I can answer a couple of your questions.
The lines are not polish lines, but improperly mixed alloy. The different alloys tone differently. see https://www.cointalk.com/threads/got-wood.65353/
There may be a couple small carbon spots (above the date?), but most or all are not.
I think the line above trust is a die crack.

 

Excellent, thank you! I actually posted on your woody thread earlier today with my 82 Memorial Lincoln, which I even though it's circulated and was found in my change, I dig it and couldn't get over the stripes so I tucked it away

I never would've guessed the improperly mixed alloy for the 1909 because the lines are so fine, so that is very interesting info.!

Is a coin like this more desirable/valuable due to improperly mixed alloy aspect? Can they be marketed for sale with this as a feature or am I backwards on this line of thinking and it actually detracts from the value?

Also, on the die crack above trust, if the line is raised can it still be a crack? I get confused on the die terminology (makes my head spin).

Anyway, thank you for commenting!!

 

It has to be raised to be a die crack. When the die cracks, the metal from the coin fill it in during the pressing

 

1) Poorly mixed planchet alloy, known as a "woody".
3) Die CRACK, due to over-use of the working die.
3) Looks more like stains than "carbon spots". Carbon spots are black and thick.
4) Looks like die polish lines.

PS - I would grade this coin around MS-65, it's a nice example.

 

Thank you BadThad! I appreciate the information and the estimated grade (yay). I'm gonna throw one more out there atcha, and that is what color category does this fall into? I see the RD, RD-BN and BN categories. There's a lot of color close-up on this guy (green specs and red specs) but when I look at through a loop with light (natural or unnatural) this thing shines like gold?

 

I can't tell for sure from your pictures. I would guess red, but it might be red/brown. (RB is anywhere from 5% red to 95% red.)

 

Okay thank you, and whoah, what a range for RB 5%-95%..

 

Beautiful coin.

 

Thanks! I'm probably overly fond (attached) to this guy due to too many hours researching the web, squinting through loupes, etc...

 

Definitely RB on this coin.