Found this coin in circulation. Took notice of the heavy corrosion which brought the lines seen in the fields to my attention. Please help evaluate what these lines are, whether this is an error or not an error or if you see anything else worth noting. Thanks for reading/commenting. 1986 1¢ Lincoln Memorial: • metal flow or die problems(?), • obverse die crack at the 9 to 11 o'clock position, • heavily corroded with verdigris (unfortunate) ================================ 1986 Obverse: 1986 Obverse: Portrait close-up 1986 Obverse: Die crack from LIBERTY to IN of IN GOD WE TRUST 1986 Obverse: Date close up 1986 Reverse: 1986 Reverse: Upper left of Memorial close up 1986 Rebverse: ONE CENT letters close up
Heavily polished die. I come across these a lot. You'll normally only notice the die lines in the fields. These lines can be quite useful for identifying varieties and die stages.
I am pretty sure at least most of those lines came from preparing the zinc sheets and/or planchets for copper plating. The early (82 - maybe 90) had major problems getting the plating to adhere properly to the zinc.
Thank you. I do see these lines on this coin in the fields predominantly. Wasn't sure if it was metal flow or die issues or even worthy of calling an 'error'. I have seen many many nickels with such lines in their fields as well.
Thanks. That's not something I knew about before. I hadn't noticed this issue discussed much here in those terms. Thanks rlm.
Those lines are from die polishing. Lines created by metal flow/die wear are radial or radiating from the center of the coin out toward the rim. Lines created on the strip from the rolling out of the metal run across the coin with all the lines parallel. This cent shows parallel lines but they are in groups and they are not all parallel to each other and sometimes cross over each other.
Die polishing is an attempt to cover a clash. Usually only the fields are affected but sometimes the shallow devices are affected. Just run of the mill stuff. No extra value for them. Just a cover up for die clashes.
I just went through another 2 boxes and see a few that have the heavy die scratches. I have not been setting them aside, although perhaps I should ? I am just running out of room. lol
I put interesting ones in tubes in case I need to photo them for a poster. I sort them accordingly. All extreme examples: Grease filled, Lathe marks, die cracks, clashes, markers and die scratches. When the tube is full, I keep the best ones and roll the rest. You just never have a coin that you can grab when taking an image. I have figured out how to come up with an example when I need on in the tubes. I only save the EXTREME examples not just common ones.
