Error or PMD?

JeffMTampa

Often times I run a coin with an oddity that's difficult to explain. Here's one that has me stumped- a 1908 D Barber Quarter graded AU 58 by PCGS:

What's caused this pierced eyebrow effect? Is it a planchet error? A struck-thru error? Or post mint damage? I'm guessing the graders noticed it and would have bagged the coin if it were PMD- but possibly not?

Any guesses?

silverpop

IMHO PMD some older coins have dings and such from being used as everyday money

ctf_error_coins

Damaged

tincup

Does look like post mint damage since several show upraised metal around the edges. But no idea of how it occurred. Nice photos.

ricko

I would call that PMD.... Until someone can convince me otherwise. Cheers, RickO

JeffMTampa

Here are a couple more shots of the same coin:

As can be seen in the extreme macro shot the surfaces of the depressed areas match the surfaces of the adjacent struck motif. If you've looked at a coin under a lot of magnification you'll know the struck surface on a coin isn't perfectly smooth; it has tiny bumps and ridges. It looks to me as tough the same bumps occur on the motif and the depressions.

I don't think the depressions are PMD; I believe they were struck into the coin.

ifthevamzarockin

PMD

The areas in red seem to be raised.

Jimnight

I would call it PMD.