Is this a mint error?

A friend sent me an image of a pilgrim 50c and asked if this is a mint error. I'm interested in comments before I reply. The coin is silver with a rough stain across the ship. I don't have a better image, one of the other side, or the entire coin; however, I don't think it is necessary in the case of this coin.

 

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They look like abrasions.

The abrasions are present on both the fields and devices (in a continuous line) and that makes me think it happened post mint and I would say it is PMD.

 

No closeups on the image and now I have to guess ! lol ..
I'm thinking feeder, or lamination ...

 

I am not a commemorative collector, And cant tell if it is die wear or not on the letters. I am leaning to Die wear with the angled pics.

 

Looks like "bag marks" from the reeded edge of another half dollar in the bag. I see them most often on Franklins.

 

This thread was posted for the education of members. The poor photo was used because that's what we all usually have to go by...so rather than show your age and your... Why not take a guess, there are no incorrect answers.

 

Here is another image. The clue is the color and surface inside the streak.

Guess again.

You too @bdunnse

 

Pitted die ..

 

Stained and pitted surface from corrosion.

 

jee a coin with marks. wgas where they came from?

let me translate for you...

 

so far, this thread is NOT very educational.

when are we going to gain your wisdom, oh great one?

 

I might go Ricks way, some sort of die imperfection? Totally a guess.

 

Remember, bad images = no incorrect answers. I could not get the color correct. Also, it would have been nice to let others guess when they get home tonight but one member here is too impatient. So...

This guess is partly correct as the poster saw marks.

This is correct, the surface is abraded and it happened after the coin was struck.

There are marks; however they are more granular in appearance than hits.

This could be a possibility. Pits in the die would produce tiny lumps on the coin. Some may resemble these however the "stain" is the clue to what this is.

Coins are coins. What we have here could be on a Trade dollar, a Peace dollar, a Washington quarter, etc. No one is an expert on all coins but many can become experts on a coin's surface.
Die wear would soften the details and not leave the stain.

This is the correct answer. Virtually any time you see a silver coin with a rough surface and a dull brownish-tan stain it indicates that the coin was dipped. There once was black corrosion on the streak. The corrosion ate away the coin's surface. When the coin is dipped and the black is removed it leaves an etched surface, always with an off color stain where the corrosion ruined the surface. The only way to hide this characteristic is to polish the coin

 

Planchet Flaw?
Rusted Die?

Double Dye

 

hey!!!! That's doubled dye

 

Blue AND red dye?

 

I like the thought that went into this thread and can see it as a good tool for newcomers. Or the seasoned numismatist. This is what is seen, day in and day out, except that the pics aren't the same quality.

 

Thanks P&G

This is a better image of the characteristic. A rubber band like streak goes across this coin. It etched the surface under the band. When the oxidation was dipped off, it left the gray etched surface. Even if this coin had been dipped properly, there is no way to hide this characteristic. In the case of this piece, even cleaning would not completely reach the area inside the "O."

I have heard grading instructors and dealers call this "dip burn." On some coins that had very dark toning, the entire surface of the coin will turn this color when dipped. The second image is a "dip burned" Uncirculated Trade dollar. This color on Seated & Trade dollars is fairly common on Impaired Proofs.