I guess the title kinda gave it all away. This date has been sort of smudged or whatever you want to call it and I just cant tell if its a small or large date. Can anyone help?
What do you call what’s going on with that number, if it isn’t smooshed. I have seen it a bunch of times: it is like it should have been doubled, but the final strike to make the indentation wasn’t there. Looks like balloon lettering. Where/why do you call it damaged?
So what you are saying is that all of the stuff that is going on w/this coin is post-production damage, correct? That’s all I wanted to know. Thank you
Absolutely. The minting process will not produce a coin with that type of digit. If you have enough resolution, you can see the scratches that were left when something hit the numbers in the date giving it the smooshed appearance
If you take more than a cursory glance at the date, and really take a look at it, such as: you can see abrasion marks really clearly on the top left of the 8 (and middle and lower), and on the lower middle of the 2. Of course, over time with general circulation those abrasion marks will be smoothed. This could have happened once or twice, or more times. All there's also many hits on the rim, and all around the coin. this pressure will take something and smoosh it down, and since it's metal it "expands" because of this. It's like pressing down on cookie dough.
@KEK52 remember, with damage it is quite unlimited. Very *unlimited* as coins can get stuck in machines, on the ground, purses .. and coins can be used for tools (screwdrivers, etc) PLUS just them banging against each other. But the minting process is fairly repetitive and consistent. So when true errors occur one can usually identify exactly where in the minting process it occurred.
@KEK52 ...Clawcoins answered before I could, but yes, abrasion is the word I would use too. Similar to the circular scoring produced by rolling machines, this type of abrasion effect caught the 2 more heavily than the 8, the 9 was missed but sports a flattened tail and the 1 has a contact mark in the center. All are considered post-mint damage (PMD). Even normal circulation wear could technically be labeled "damage", but I tend to reserve the usage to gouges, holes, pitting, scrapes, environmental discoloration and...abrasion...Spark
