when do die markers come along? is it during the making of the die? during the use of the die? or both? I know cracks and chips can probably occur at any time right? what about die gouges? do they only occur during the making of or can they come along during use?
What Kurt said, but also, these features on the die will not produce errors, they are just markers of the die state (sometimes a significant marker produces a variety).
When you're looking for markers in things like Matte Proof Lincoln cents, those markers are there on the first strike to the last, for the most part.
someone in a facebook group had asked me if they had the Bombay hook 006 because it didn't have the die chip near beak but it was obviously the 006. I have a homestead (somewhere around here) the 043 with a decent die gouge above roof. I can understand how bits of debri etc. can get in between. how does a die gouge occur during its use??
Speaking of Homesteads, I might be getting my NGC slabbed Homestead window pane "pump reflected in the window" in the mail today. It has some kind of reference number on it. Whose are those? Never mind. Found it. The VP stands for Variety Plus.
