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Scratch vs Gouge.
Insider2
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One of the first things I like to do in a week-long seminar is to spend time explaining the characteristics we'll see on coins. That way, when one student tells the class there is a planchet flaw on the reverse of a certain coin, the entire class knows what to look for (and how it is caused) when it is their turn to examine the coin.
In this post, I want you to understand the difference between a "scratch" and a "gouge." Note that in both cases the marks are not fresh. They have the same color as the surrounding surface. That's possibly why the buyer (who doesn't own a hand lens) of this raw coin missed the defects and paid much more than the coin is worth! Make sure you see one scratch or three gouges in the images.
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Yep, good examples. btw, I prefer the almost natural color better than the lime yellow/green
You’ve been using lately. Not sure if it’s on purpose
But when I see those colors in the threads I usually can’t look long as the off color bothers
my eyes.
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Metal looks different in Florescent light.
Those are all scratches.
What's a "Gash" ? How about a "Furrow", "Skitch", or "Chasm?
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
@DIMEMAN Please see my PM.
The learning process should be fun and I appreciate your humor.
Actually, there is a characteristic for both "gash" and "furrow." "Scrape" is another useful term that just came to mind. I saw all three of these characteristics today but did not bother to image them.
Back in the 1970's, we got to "play God" so we were able to assign specific names for various types of damage we saw on coins. Unfortunately, newcomers have come along to screw things up in many cases. The most obvious abuse occurs with the word "cleaned." With everything from slight mishandling all the way to "micro whizzing" being simply called "cleaning."
PS I was excited to learn a new word but "Skitch" is not in my dictionary.
Scratch or Gouge I don't like I'll wait a bit longer till I find one with out them to keep for my collection but that is just me..
Scratch
Gouge
Hoard the keys.
A skitch is smaller than a scratch but bigger than a tic.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
Trench?
Abyss?
Good examples and precise nomenclature, @insider2 Thanks for the refresher
FWIW, in my mind, a scratch usually results from a pulling motion, and a gouge results from a pushing motion. Depth is a factor too.
If you swipe or graze somebody or something with a sharp object, that is a scratch. If you stab them with a sharp object, that is a gouge.
IMHO.
@Baley said: "A skitch is smaller than a scratch but bigger than a tic."
"Skitches" and "tics" fall into an unrelated category. I imaged some "furrows" on a Hawaii cent and a "scrape" on a dollar this morning that I will post later.
EXCELLENT explanation. Thanks, I never thought of that and it's so easy to under stand! I'm going to steal this for myself and I'll try to remember NOT to mention you.
I'm going to modify it an add to each that: "virtually all ____ result from a push or pull because either can cause the other in a minority of cases.
looks like a scratch to me (fwiw)
Scrape and furrows:
On a coin I'd prefer a gouge... If attacked by the swordsmanship of Zorro I'd prefer a scratch.
Easy - if I am selling it is a scratch, and if I am buying it is a gouge. Same for scuff vs. scrape.
If I may add to this fenom, does the heat factor come into play. just something to add.
If selling it is a "minor surface disturbance" or "character line."
To me, a scratch vs. a gouge comes down to depth and to some extent, width. On the two OP images, I see scratches - with the one above and below God, approaching gouge.
Don't forget the dreaded "whangus," which looks like a coin having been hit by an ax-wielding Lilliputian.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
"Character line.".
Love it.
Defining such defects will likely be necessary for the development of computer grading...Utilizing artificial intelligence, the aberrations can be defined and noted in the grade. Cheers, RickO