Is this die polishing or post mint damage?

On this 1893 proof barber quarter graded PF 64 CAMEO by NGC, I found an area on the reverse that has some marks on it. I have looked at it under magnification with my loupe and can't determine if it is post mint damage from somebody trying to remove something or die polishing lines. I have looked at several images of 1893 25c proof counterpart images and can't find any with similar marks that I can see. They kind of disappear at certain angles and look raised under high magnification but I can't tell. Can anybody tell from these images?

 

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Looks like pmd like scratches almost

 

Either "Finger Feeder scrapes" ( Search Results for “die scrape” (error-ref.com)) OR PMD.

 

PROBABLY

 

Probably what? LOL.
PMD?

 

From what I can see in your photo I do suspect they are PMD.
If they are die Polish/Cleaning line I really would expect them to go under the design being that close to it. Die Polishing is done to remove lines from a die, not incur them on a Proof die.
In most cases feeder fingers rubbing on a anvil die with make polished mirror-like finish in a small area.

Die cleaning lines on a 1970-S cent.


Feeder finger rub around the #1 on a 1922 VAM 2F .
Which is an ID marker for this VAM.

 

Looks like PMD to me.

 

That characteristic on a coin is called a "Spot Removal." Many numismatists call the person who did it an ignorant, ham-fisted, idiot!

Now @Artillery87, how can you tell the difference between PMD and Die polish the next time you see it?

 

I agree. Looks like someone took a pencil eraser to the coin. Talk about killing what one was a beautiful coin!

 

That was my thought (spot removal)......it looks like an harsh scrub.

 

I didn't think it was die polish lines but didn't think of spot removal. Sounds right to me.

 

Yeah it's such a shame... Other than that one spot it is a VERY nice coin. That is most likely why NGC knocked it down a few grades... I think it might have acheived 66 if not for that spot. Your right Insider, whoever did that was a "ham fisted idiot!"

 

Agreed. If someone's going to do that, they may as well use a hammer.

 

Proofs get treated differently by the TPGs, if that had been a business strike it would be "MS details, spot removed."

 

The marks to the right of the eagle's neck are definitely PMD. The raised marks to the left of the shield might be die polishing.

 

still a pretty coin

 

I sure wish coins could talk. What was that person trying to remove that they would destroy it?

 

I’m thinking it was a dark spot but then it really doesn’t matter. All that matters is they did destroy the coin.