Upon seeing this coin come across your desk.

Describe the first thing you see, and how you go about confirming what you think you see.
I see what could be a scratch going from 2 -7 o'clock.
(damage). But then is it actually a scratch?
What say you?

 

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Hard to say without the coin in hand.... I've seen enough of the die crack on peace dollars in about the same position to hold that out as possible until further examination can be done.

Edit: After seeing the schmootz on his nose I think adhesive might be the best explanation.

 

Since it runs underneath the lettering it gives the vibe of a planchet or plating problem to me.

 

Yeah there is some smootz on his upper lip? There are still plenty of areas that look gouged like scratched, it could all be smoots. Except the other side of the coin has the same tones of the perimeter of the obverse.

 

I just can't get past the blob on his nose and mouth and the change in color of the coin inside and outside the border. Like I said, Ive seen that same kind of thing on lots of Peace Dollars so I am totally not ruling out a die break though.

Not going to be a plating issue, there's no plating here. I'm not sure a planchet flaw would show up like that in the raised letters. Another point for die break, but I can't get past his nose....

 

It runs over/thru RICA, E, and LLAR.

 

The color on the reverse matching the areas outside the border of the area in question actually is a point in favor of adhesive. Something covered the area inside the border keeping it from toning in the same manner.

 

Gorilla glue!

 

In-between that conculsion I looked at the Blob being a strike thru. Or, retained.

 

Gorrilla glue would have a bit more bubbled in tone. Did anyone see the rough unexplained debri/or tone between TER and the bust?

 

Here is a different look.

 

Nice Pix. It's just strange, hence my silly answer. Is the area raised or recessed. It's hard to tell with a straight on view.

 

Putting this coin in a solution is not the next step.

Could this be an early stage capped die?
If you cleaned it, what happens when the surfaces don't change?
It might get a distilled water bath. No Q-tip.

 

The step shows most towards the rim. Before I saw the extent of the Blob. My first thought was maybe a struck thru wire, or debri. That small looking gutter makes me think, well I don't know yet. I am gonna have to get some shut eye before I come to a conclusion.

 

Yea, good idea. Besides, talking to yourself is strange when others cn listen.
Take more Pics in the morning, Okay?

 

schmootz on his nose I think maybe a lamination plus a defective blank.

 

Glue. While it looks like a circumferential scratch/crack or maybe a clash, the discoloration being limited to the outer edges of the field vs the bust makes me think glue is protecting the surface from the elements.

So...what have we?

 

This is going to have to wait till later. I just don't have the time this morning.
Please post your opinions.

 

It's in a water bath. I poked and nudged the Schmoots didn't leave any indicator of a scratch or damage. Gonna soak it for a few hours.

 

I wish I would have never touched it.
It had a soak in distilled water.
Any idea why the obverse changed it tone so much? The water nearly dried up at one time.
And any new opinions?