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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GDJMSP, post: 3341832, member: 112&quot;]I readily agree that the 1939 was not struck with misaligned dies - and said so.</p><p><br /></p><p>But the 1941 coin, if the dies were properly aligned, then the width and height of the rims would be equal all the way around. They are obviously not. And to me, that can only mean one thing - the dies were misaligned.</p><p><br /></p><p>But if you guys wish to disagree, OK. Then please show me a picture of a coin that was struck with misaligned dies. Or, describe in words how you define misaligned dies. So that I can understand what you&#039;re talking about.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>First off, can we agree that the quality of luster on a given coin is a function of pressure because pressure is what creates the metal flow, and metal flow is what creates luster to begin with ?</p><p><br /></p><p>If we can agree on that, then we need to agree or disagree that there are a few things that can affect the pressure being exerted on a planchet. The most obvious of course would be the pressure setting on the press. Granted, that setting can vary and often does for a couple of different reasons. As has been mentioned previously sometimes one mint will use a lower pressure setting than another to extend die life. Sometimes it is an accident, somebody on the floor makes a mistake with the pressure adjustment.</p><p><br /></p><p>Another would be die spacing - which is defined by how far apart the dies are set to be in the press. Make the space too far apart and not as much pressure will be exerted. This setting too can be deliberate or accidental. And less pressure means a lower quality of luster - assuming we agree on my first comment.</p><p><br /></p><p>Yet another would be a planchet that is too thin, or too thick. Either one will affect the resulting coin and its luster because either one will affect the amount of pressure being applied to the planchet. Too thin and the quality of luster will be lower, too thick and the quality of luster will be higher, but there will also be finning produced on the coin, to varying degrees, as a result of the higher pressure.</p><p><br /></p><p>And lastly, proper or improper die alignment. How proper or improper die alignment affects pressure should be obvious. Proper pressure is only applied when and if the dies both come together on the planchet in the right places. In the vertical plane, if high points and low points on one die don&#039;t line up just right with high points and low points on the other die then proper pressure cannot be applied. This is simple logic.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the horizontal plane, if one die is set slightly out or parallel with the other die, or if both dies are set slightly out of dead level or plumb as the case may be ( as in horizontal vs vertical presses) then the faces of the dies simply cannot come together as they were designed to do. It is impossible because they will further apart on one side than they are on the other. And if they do not come together as designed then this exerts less pressure. And less pressure results in a lower quality of luster. Again this is simple logic.</p><p><br /></p><p>Edit - </p><p><br /></p><p>Just realized I left something out here, I forgot to mention die wear. Die wear most definitely affects the quality of luster. Coins with the highest quality of luster are struck with fairly fresh dies, dies that have little to no die wear. And the more die wear a die has the lower the quality of luster will be. </p><p><br /></p><p>And yes, I realize there are those who disagree with that. But they fail to take into account that uniformity in the flow lines is what produces the highest quality of luster. And die wear by definition reduces uniformity.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now if you wish to disagree, please do. But please explain the how and why.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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