I can't make up my mind. I was thinking that, but at the same time there is no break on the elevated areas and it's contained. it looks...iffy IMO.
yeah I get that. and I am no way arguing that. maybe it is a lack in my knowledge of dies (non existent) but is it possible for a die to start breaking in a recessed area? wouldn't a break start on a higher point? or does it not matter? or is part of the coin that is recessed actually the high point on the die?
You are correct- the areas of the coin that are recessed are actually the high point of the dies. Your other questions are focused on more grey areas. The die hubbing process was drastically changed (was it 1996... ?). Much of the mint errors, such as doubled dies and die cracks, are radically different than they were in the past. @usmc60 is better educated in them; thus you would be better off learning from him. (you can also see examples of different features he has documented in his threads) From my understanding (warning: opinion )- many of the die cracks from the modern dies are almost more of a splinter that has chipped away because of the the hardness of the dies.
mynamespat Sir your knowledge far exceeds mine. For I am just a simple peasant with a microscope who enjoys looking at coins. And if I come across an unusual coin I keep it. certain coins the unusual markings we will never know what actually caused them because we were not at the mint. When it comes to hardened steel always expect the unexpected.
You are always going to find minor irregularities with a microscope. Especially with so many different designs (state and ATB quarters). It may be interesting, but unless it is some kind of major error, it's just a curiosity.
I was quite happy with my purchase of my stereo microscope over 17 years ago. It's a standard 20 x 40, I picked it up at this Seattle-Tacoma coin show. The dealer had a variety of microscopes to try out. And you're absolutely correct the protection coins for circulation have a variety of irregularities. If you haven't notice there hasn't been that many modern day major varieties errors. And from what I gather from the articles I've been reading, the mint has been salting coins that are being released into the public to help keep the hobby going. That's only a theory by some. I happen to believe in that theory. I go through thousands of circulated and non-circulated coins a month, and a big majority of the errors I find are minor. But you have to work with what you have to work with. It has been almost impossible to pull silver quarters out of boxes here in South Florida. From some of the articles here on CT members are still finding silver across the states. Like I said in one of my post 20,000 quarters one silver quarter USMC60.
