What is this? What would cause these marks?

Please help me understand what would cause these marks to run below the lettering.
Russ took this image. If he wants I'll remove it. I just want to understand it.

 

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Planchet flaw?

 

Could they just be scratches? They appear to only go through the raised areas, and not the lower parts.

 

First off, there is what looks to be a die crack in the top bar of the shield. However I assume you are referring to the notches through the lettering. They are 100% in the die. I would guess they are from the loading fingers.

 

I see the topical die cracks along the top of the shield, other than that a couple of post mint dings.

 

E pluribus unum is incuse. Just post-mint dings.

 

I'm sorry for bringing this up. I'm told the lettering is incuse. My eyes can't see that. I feel like a fool. Sorry for all the drama.

 

Larry, E PLURIBUS UNUM is recessed into the shield, so the marks you see are actually on the surface......PMD.

Chris

PS. Oops! I see you already got the answer.

 

Larry , you had me going for awhile . As I don't look at too many shield nickels I thought they were incused , but these pics sure make it look like they are raised . So I found one and had to scratch it to see that they were indeed incused . Man getting old is no fun .

 

Your not alone the lighting angle makes the letters look raised.

 

I scratched one as well and still thought it was raised. I learned a great lesson here. My scope is covered in dust. It's time to clean it up and start using it again.

 

Incuse...learned something new.