hey all, as i am new to collecting i was wondering why this coin has a different look than normal? did the coin just not get finished or something like that to get the streaks. is there a term for this. i have seen a few of these searching the web. thanks for the information in advance
The term "woody" is used to describe the pattern made due to an improper mix of alloys in a copper planchet. The streaks on your buffalo nickel is the pattern the toning took on. Here is another example:
The streaking from improper alloy mix and planchet striations are two different but related things. The streaking is caused by the areas of different alloy compositions toning at different rates. The toning is streaked because the metal is stretched in the direction of the rolling of the strip. Planchet striations are also caused by the rolling, and are in the direction of the rolling of the strip, but are actual grooves in the surface of the metal and are caused by the surface of the rollers becoming worn. On dies the wear forms flow lines outward radially from the center. On the roller the lines form going around the roller. This forms grooves running the length of the strip. Usually these grooves are flatten by the striking of the coin but on weaker strikes can still be seen, usually in the areas of higher relief where the coin does not fully strike up. You can have planchet striations on coins with no streaking because the alloy is homogenous, and you can have streaking on coins that are fully struck up and the surfaces completely smooth.
