Question about intentionally buying coins with polish lines

thisistheshow

I know that some people like them. I do too. There have been some great threads here with some nice images.
I have read collectors saying that it is much harder to sell these coins if it comes time to. Has this been anyone's experience?

MFeld

It depends upon the coin - how heavy and/or distracting the die polish lines are. It also depends upon the buyer, as some buyers like them, others are neutral and still others avoid them.

As one example, die polish lines are often found on semi-prooflike or prooflike coins such as business strike Mercury Dimes. The buyers of such coins are typically aware of that and still happy to acquire the coins.

thisistheshow

@MFeld said:
It depends upon the coin - how heavy and/or distracting the die polish lines are. It also depends upon the buyer, as some buyers like them, others are neutral and still others avoid them.

I personally like them even when very heavy. Now that I consider it, I would equate it to how some people see very heavy toning as too distracting while others are drawn to it.

DollarAfterDollar

Since die polish lines are a byproduct of freshly prepared dies, the bonus is typically very sharp details. I like them anyway.

thevolcanogod

Many people new to the hobby etc. think they are scratches so stay away from them. Sent someone a nice raw Washington quarter that would possibly 66 but had die polish lines. Guy returns it saying it’s harshly cleaned - scratches all over the place.

291fifth

Anything that detracts from eye appeal is a negative. Most collectors probably think polish lines detract from eye appeal. Buy them at your own risk.

BillJones

I know what polish lines are, but a lot of collectors can't get their minds around the concept. To them they look like scratches. They don't me so long as they don't interfere with my enjoyment of the design.

Smudge

I can see them as a tool a buyer may use to beat down the price. Best sales venue may be an auction. I find them interesting.

slider23

I am fine with the die polish lines, but I would not want my collection built around them. I sold a couple MS65 Morgans semi prooflike with heavy polish lines. I tried to hype the polish lines as special, but the coins did sit on the shelf longer than expected before being sold.

Peace_dollar88

Here is a popular coin among 1921 die varieties. Business strike coin struck from satin proof dies.

HighRelief

The reverse on this 79-S is showing some heavy die polishing lines, gives the coin some character in my opinion.

mannie gray

I don't mind them on Lincolns or Mercs, but I can't stand them on Walkers.
Overall, I find them slightly to moderately distracting.

(But I love woodgrain copper....so go figure?)

Insider2

@DollarAfterDollar said:
Since die polish lines are a byproduct of freshly prepared dies, the bonus is typically very sharp details. I like them anyway.

This is news to me.

Unknown

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messydesk

@DollarAfterDollar said:
Since die polish lines are a byproduct of freshly prepared dies, the bonus is typically very sharp details. ...

Not so much. Some polishing lines are there when the dies are freshly prepared, but dies are sometimes repolished after being used for a while, especially in an attempt to get rid of clash marks.

Then there's this (1903 Morgan $1 VAM 1A), accurately graded MS63 by our hosts:

sparky64

I have a few.
I didn't intentionally buy them for the polish lines but I'm glad to have them.
They're kind of a little sub type in my mind.
Also the lines can sometimes enhance a coins appearance if they are in concentric arcs.
The parallel linear lines, not so much.

logger7

I've been surprised at how many seasoned collectors mistake them for evidence of cleaning.

toyz4geo

I bought a raw 1942-S Jefferson off eBay a while back. Looked ok in sellers pics. In hand, heavy polish lines. Submitted it to our hosts anyway. Came back 66+FS, so yes, I like them

DollarAfterDollar

John is (obviously) correct. They not only appear on dies fresh to the task but also dies that have been repolished for re-use. The most important aspect to remember is that they are raised lines rather than fine scratches. a good 10X loupe shows this effect.

bolivarshagnasty

I'm not sure I have seen a very early die state anything with die polish marks. My thought has always been that the fresh striking dies arrive micro-polished an ready to go. It's not until the dies have an issue, that the coining room tech takes them and "works" on them to get more life from the die. This would involve less sophisticated polishing equipment that leaves micro scratches which in turn leaves die striations on the struck up coin. Bottom line, they represent a less than a perfect surface in the plane or fields than was intended. I consider them to be a negative and not a positive attribute.
@Insider2 Does this sound about right?

TNort17

This is one I own now. I sold a Merc with more die polish lines than this one a few years ago (don’t want to post someone else’s coin) with no problem. I think the majority of collectors know what they are and like them - from my limited experience. I profited from the one I sold, and I know the person I sold it to profited, financially, from our transaction.

So, from your original post, I would say it is not hard to sell. As long as it is a quality coin, in general.

toyz4geo

@TNort17 said:

This is one I own now. I sold a Merc with more die polish lines than this one a few years ago (don’t want to post someone else’s coin) with no problem. I think the majority of collectors know what they are and like them - from my limited experience. I profited from the one I sold, and I know the person I sold it to profited, financially, from our transaction.

So, from your original post, I would say it is not hard to sell. As long as it is a quality coin, in general.

Love that reverse shot. Did that PL or star?

thefinn

@Insider2 said:

@DollarAfterDollar said:
Since die polish lines are a byproduct of freshly prepared dies, the bonus is typically very sharp details. I like them anyway.

This is news to me.

Exactly. Most times it's an old die they were trying to erase a clash from, so it has LESS details.

thefinn

@logger7 said:
I've been surprised at how many seasoned collectors mistake them for evidence of cleaning.

And I love to buy them when they believe that they are hairlined!

Aspie_Rocco

When I hunt for certain die clash varieties I use specific die polish patterns to verify and as “die markers”
I noticed several clash varieties that might not make it, after heavy polish nearly obliterates the imperfection while simultaneously eroding design details.
Like with 3 leg Buffalo and Bugs bunny Franklin, various Lincoln memorial clashes

leothelyon

Here's my theory and I'll try to make this as short and sweet as possible. Watch this video on, "How coins are made" and wait for the term, concentric circles.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+coins+are+made&&view=detail&mid=4DBC86B1D5C99F8470A84DBC86B1D5C99F8470A8&rvsmid=9DBF4FB84F1CE988510B9DBF4FB84F1CE988510B&FORM=VDQVAP
It was necessary to eliminate those concentric lines or they would end up on the coin.
Click on the link below, My Jefferson Nickel Collection to see three coins with concentric lines and further information. Here's one of those 3 coins.

Leo

thisistheshow

I really appreciate so many opinions on this question. Very informative and helpful, proving once again how great this forum is.