Toyed with putting this in the "What's it Worth" forum, but figured 50 cents is a good estimate, lol. Anyone want to try to grade this coin: Anyone know what kind of situation or situations would wear a coin down so quickly? I suspected slot machine abuse, but it doesn't have the edge wear and surface dents I usually see on those coins. It looks like it's just gone through about 50 or 60 years of heavy circulation... but it's only 31 years old! Saved this one just because I've never seen a coin this young look so old. It must have had a pretty rough life. Thought it deserved retirement from circulation.
It might have been a pocket piece....they wear down fast...I think the Morgan I carry is almost to the place where it might win the worst Morgan dollar ever. Speedy
Is there a term for when it looks like the letters of a coin go flat and almost disappear from age (Other than "getting old")?
Don't know if there's a more specialized term than "wear," but that's essentially what it is. This coin at least seems evenly worn, lacking the dents and worn-off reeding that tends to come from slot machine abuse. Possibly someone kept it in their pocket and rubbed it for good luck often, lol... have to admit I had a half dollar that I always kept in my wallet until I realized it was a mishandled proof and put it someplace where it would fare better. That one is a nice looking piece I rescued out of a slot machine. As for this one, I have a Walking Liberty half with less wear than this... but will keep this one around. As worn as it is, it still has the dignity of a nice coin that just got old before its time.
