Can anyone explain what striation is to me please?

I heard this term, and I'm not sure what it means, but I would certainly like to know.

 

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I've heard striation used in reference to parallel lines/scratches/polish lines. Most often referring to polish lines.

Here is an example:



See the die polish lines in the recesses? These are often called striations.

Here's another coin that shows this feature:



They are vertical in most of the fields of this coin.

Hope this helps...Mike

 

Well a striation is one of many parallel lines
In coin lingo its lines caused by the polishing of blanks prior to striking.
They are usualy found on Proof coins.

 

I have a morgan dollar, which I thought was cleaned, but had wondered about it, since the "scratches" could only be seen with a 10x loupe, and also were completely parrallel, would be it be acceptable to assume that there is at least a possibility that these striation lines? I sent the coin to be graded, so I'll found out if it's cleaned.

 

I don't think it's whizzed, as I actually have a morgan dollar that was slabbed by and labeled whizzed, and doesn't look quite the same. Could you please explain what flow lines are to me? Today has been a good day for learning!

 

oh, this explains the lines on some of the coins in my proof sets

 

Here is the definition that I use;

Works for me!

 

There are also planchet striations that are long parallel marks left on the planchet strip from the stretching of the rolling process (and from the rollers themselves if they are becoming worn.) These striations can often be seen in the high relief areas on coins that are weakly struck.

 

Wow I learnt some thing new . This is great group

 

Flow lines are etchings in the dies from the planchets moving across it. They are microscopic and are what gives a coin it's luster. Die polish or die scratches are just that, scratches in the dies (but bigger heavier scratches than flow lines) from sand paper or something pretty abrasive. The scratches are cut into the dies and so are raised on the coin. Dies are "polished" usually to reduce damage from clashed dies.

Hairlines are scratches on the coin put there after the coin was struck. Die polish were scratches on the dies, and so, are imprinted into the coin. They are raised and will also have a color similar to the rest of the coin. Hairlines are scratches cut into the coin and their color will not resemble the color of the rest of the coin. If you scratch a piece of existing metal the scratch stands out. Hair lines will stand out as well, from the rest of the coin. Usually just rocking it will be enough to see hairlines. Offer to sell a BU coin to a dealer and rocking it slightly will probably be the first thing he does.

 

Thanks GDJMSP. That might be a good reason for using the term die polish instead of die scratches, too easy to get it mix up with hairlines scratches.

Or we could petition congress to appoint an Entanglement Czar? When they come back from their Christmas Vacation :headbang:

 

What about when the lines shoot directly outward, instead of circling? Kind of like a starburst pattern. I have a Washington dollar coin with these lines right next to the Statue of Liberty. It looks like it’s only in the field. I also have a US cent with very heavy markings of the same sort, but it covers the whole obverse (Not just the field), and the coin is even bent into a dome shape. while they look stretched in some places on the rim, a portion of them look absolutely uniform. What are these types of errors called, and what causes them?

 

Yay! Another 10+ years old thread resurrected

 

A worn die strike.. Spend it.