This is a 2003... but most the letters are gone.. I can see it's beat up some..but still the letters are just not there...This is an error isn't it? Whats it called? confused:
I usually call those kind road kill. It could be due to any number of reasons really, but it's not due to normal wear from circulation that's for sure.
Hi Guys, This one is not "roadkill" . It is likely one of two things. It is either struck through grease on both dies. That would cause the details to look like this. OR... It is an adjustment strike or some other form of mint produced "weak strike". One of many causes is a strike that occurs while they are setting up the coin presses and before the pressure is adjusted to the proper amount. (modern presses don't have the prssure adjusted much so there are other causes as well) I lean strongly toward an adjustment strike (weak strike) which is a nice error coin. Check these links from Ken Potter's website: http://koinpro.tripod.com/Articles/DieAdjustmentStrikeOrWeakStrikeQ.htm http://koinpro.tripod.com/Articles/TrialorWeakStrkMoffatt Have Fun, Bill
If you say so Bill. But I gotta tell ya, with all those large digs and gashes and the literally thousands of scratches on the coin - it sure looks like road kill to me.
Hi, Those little digs and gashes are the result of the coin being in a hopper with thousands of other coins after they were struck. Often, the surface of a blank planchet for a nickel five-cent coin has as many marks on it. The gashes and marks are what indicate that the surface is not worn. Have Fun, Bill
Bill is correct. This is a weak strike. It's wishful thinking to call it a "die trial" or a "die adjustment strike", however. In the case of a simple, centered weak strike, it's impossible to assign cause. While it may be an escapee from a test run, it could just as easily represent weakness caused by spontaneous equipment malfunction during a press run. While some of the nicks are undoubtedly tumbling marks that were present on the unstruck planchet, an even greater number appear to be bag marks or circulation damage. A lot of the nicks are present in the field, where the striking pressure was highest and where you'd expect the fewest nicks to be. Regardless of the cause of the weakness, and despite its scuffiness, it's a nice find.
While your on the subject many years ago I bought a roll of " unc " 1958 nickles, I recently opened the roll and found that nearly all the nickles had a weak strike on the reverse but fine on the obv. Did I see somewhere that this was common for that year?? How would this affect the value??
A slightly faint design can result from causes other than a weak (low pressure) strike. 1. The alloy might be a little harder than normal. 2. Striking pressure might be reduced slightly to increase die life. 3. Relief that is too high can result in poorly struck details at the high points of the design. 4. Two high relief structures on opposing faces often result in weakness. 5. Insufficient die convexity can result in peripheral weakness. 6. Excessive die convexity can result in peripheral weakness. 7. Inadequte upset can result in peripheral weakness. 8. Too thin a planchet can result in weakness. 9. Die wear can mute the design details. I could go on.
Not road kill, Well thats just great.. And so the error is called..what, a weak strike? Is worth much? or just something to keep? Thanks Bill, Mike.. Everyone.. :hail:
