Is there a good reference on distinguishing struck through errors from PMD? I find that smaller potential struck through errors are very hard to distinguish from just plain old damage at times and I want to learn more about how to properly spot these. I have run across several coins in some older BU rolls that appear to be struck through smaller debris as impressions seem to be pressed down into the coin without displaced metal, smearing, or clear marks of just being dinged, but I still think they could just be damaged. Thanks in advance for the help!
The biggest clue is something you already mentioned. The lack of displaced metal. If your coin appears to have surfaces that are not raised near the edge of the suspected void, then most likely it was struck through rather than having a scrape or gouge causing it. If it was punched by something post strike then most likely there will be some apparent flattening of the design element on the opposite side of the void.
Here is a 1976-D Ike Dollar that I have with a strike through. It's right on the date. What you want to look at are the edges of the indent. You'll notice that where it follows the curve of the 9, there is a very fine ridge of the date that appears uninterrupted. Had this happened post strike, the leg of the 9 would most likely have been obliterated or pushed out. The surface of the fields surrounding the indent are undisturbed and not raised. This is because metal was not displaced.
Thanks y'all! That definitely confirmed my understanding of it and clarified more as to what I am looking for.
