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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Tom Maringer, post: 2710469, member: 7033&quot;]Sorry but I must disagree Oldhoopster! The problem with this example is that it does have a lot of wear on it, so in order to prove my point I dug out a bag of zinc cents and went looking for a similar example that was in better condition in order to show that it is, in fact, a die-state issue. It did not take me very long! Here is a 1986 cent showing a very strong ridge inside the rim at top-obverse. Note that the letters are not distorted. Clearly this is the result of a groove worn in the die.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]612007[/ATTACH]</p><p>These groove appear to be quite common among the early zinc pennies of the 1980s. Whatever caused the groove (several possibilities) was clearly NOT related to the lettering.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is another example, from 2004 of the same sort of effect.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]612009[/ATTACH]</p><p>but this time, note that the raised line is perfectly aligned with the tops of the letters, right where the greatest outward force of metal flow will impinge against the raised fin separating letters from rim.</p><p><br /></p><p>Finally, here is the reverse of that same near-mint 2004 cent.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]612010[/ATTACH]</p><p>and you can clearly see the line stop and start between the letters, just as it did on the example initially shown on this thread. With all due respect to the people who think it&#039;s coin-wear, this example is clearly NOT wear since it is a new cent, and it shows most of the same features as the example we&#039;re discussing.</p><p><br /></p><p>As a professional minter, I work with coin dies every single day. I see every imaginable error or problem. Die-state is a huge issue for us... we&#039;ve had dies destroyed after less than 100 strikes, or last for over 20,000 strikes. We&#039;ve seen every type of clash and brockage and die-scarring. This type of wear that takes place out towards the edge of the design and particularly on the outside of the lettering ring is extremely common. It&#039;s one of the primary things we have to take into account when designing a new piece.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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