I need some help figuring this error out. The weakness from 3 o’clock - 6 o’clock does not appear to have any Blakesley effect on the opposite side, nor any indication on the reverse that this was made post-mint. is this struck through something? And did that something obliterate the rim from 3-6? opinions wanted opinions on the coin are appreciated as well
It's an Atheist Half Can we see the edge for the area in question. The upraised rim looks affected so it's questionable
Struck though grease and that would show any damage opposite of the area in question. Its not a clip,or cut.
ok... explain this... if the planchet was tapered or incomplete, how did the coin strike perfectly on one side and poorly on the other. What held the coin in the anvil die while it struck, because it wasn't metal
I think your coin was Struck Thru Debris/Grease. It has a weak distorted strike only on one side. Thin and/or defective planchet does not have a weak strike on just one side, It shows weak on both sides.
A grease-filled die would not displace the upset rim on the planchet in the chamber. If anything, grease would fill the recesses of the lettering, and not make it appear stretched radially outward, as it appears to be. Because a planchet tapered in the calendering rolls of a rolling mill would typically exhibit a loss of material on both sides of the coin, I have reconsidered my original opinion, and now believe the planchet delaminated at the distorted area after upsetting the rim and before strike. To me, this most plausibly explains the radial stretching of the letters, the loss of the upset rim on that same side, and the preservation of detail and upset rim on the opposite side.
Thank you for your thoughtful answers, Mike. I appreciate the direction that your mind is taking the discussion. I have to disagree with your latest opinion as well, but for the following reason: The strike makes metal flow from rim to center. The date is so close to your proposed lamination, yet is completely unaffected. The fact that the strike is sharp opposite the affected area, is telling me that the chamber was full, or we’d see the metal flow affected. Is it possible that this is a strike through? It seems to be the only plausible option.
I don’t know. It looks from the side views like it’s just tapered down on the obverse side. The reverse side looks flush in the the side views. I think I’d expect the die to strike full on the reverse side. I think you dx’ed it right the first time. Atypical or not, look again at the side views, it’s tapered down just on the one side.
I enjoy challenges such as this so, time permitting, it's hard to let go without reaching a well-supported conclusion. I know some members promote this as undeniable fact. I do not. Planchets are designed and made smaller in diameter than the finished product for the very reason this is not true. Reeding is formed by the outward expansion of the planchet into the collar when struck. It is not until the outward flowing material is substantially confined that it flows inward. Consider the accentuated outward erosion of dies from stars to rim on Capped Bust Halves despite the proliferation of weak central strikes of that design. As described in the last paragraph, you should not expect the date to be disturbed before details closer to the rim. The upset rim is work-hardened before strike. Striking through most any soft debris, such as grease, wood, fabric, tape, etc, would clearly leave the upset rim largely intact. Striking through something so hard as to obliterate the hardened rim is plausible, but I'd expect to see abrupt interruptions in the rim at both edges of the debris. That is not evident in your photos. I continue to posit that the planchet delaminated in this area before strike.
Spoke with another dealer today who deals in errors almost exclusively, and he concurred that this appears to be struck on a planchet which delaminated after upsetting and before strike.
Thanks, Mike! @ToughCOINS You've proved why I love this forum. Just solid discussion based on facts. Professional and intelligent. Thank you so much for taking the time.
