I found this one today. It has a large 'smudge' coming out from the surface, and there is no detioration of Washington or the center reverse picture, but there is distinct smearing of all the letters "ICA QUARTER DOLLAR UNIT" including "LIBERTY" and "IN GOD WE TRUST", but not the mint mark. On the reverse, there is blurring and smearing of "NEW" in New Hapmshire, and all the stars and "E PLURIBUS UNUM" as underlined. What happen here?? IS it of any interest, or is it post mint? Am I looney for posting so many non-interesting errors?
I needed to add this underneath the pictures for emphasis: The smear is protruding from the coin, as clearly seen in the bottom left side of picture number 2.
Fascinating. This is a bizarre form of die deterioration. I would, in fact, classify it as a "soft die error". This is a rare form of die deterioration characterized by premature, localized, and exaggerated distortion of the die face. It is possibly related to improper preparation of the dies; perhaps improper annealing, cooling, or tempering. Soft die errors are quite rare, and I've never seen a coin struck by soft dies on BOTH faces. I've written an article on the phenomenon, and this would make a great subject for an update.
I'd have to think about it. But you are more than welcome to borrow it, if you are to examine and write an article on it.
Got another one, as I ask and ask and ask people to always look for it for me, and collect every NH quarter they get at work (retail) and save them for my examination Email sent.
