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1864 two cent what is the grade and strange mark on reverse?
Ppp
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I would appreciate some opinions as to the grade and the mark on the reverse.
I think it is strange how the mark (which appears like a channel) is only in the field which is a low point on the reverse. Is this pmd?
Thank you
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Comments
Grade is quite high, EF-40 or EF-45.
Not sure what that mark is. It might be a stain?
Is it incuse, like a scratch?
Definitely doesn’t look like a scratch to me.
The edges appear slightly raised almost like something melted a channel to form the mark. I apologize for the poor description.
Easily XF or better. Maybe a die gouge? If so that's a nice one!
The mark may be from a pen or pencil. If a ball-point pen was used, the surface will still show groves from the ball even after the ink is removed. This would be equivalent to permanent "graffiti". If the mark is from a pencil, a little soap and water with a q-tip might remove it.
Aside from the mark, the grade appears to be EF45 or maybe even AU50. An acetone bath with a q-tip might help remove gunk from between the vertical shield stripes.
Ouch! I don't like it. A well placed scratch? You say the edges of that channel look raised. The last picture looks like a cut in the coin or almost like a lamination? Don't know but the rest of the coin looks great!
Nice looking 1864 Large motto. I don't know about the scratch, but the obverse is really nice. I agree with dcarr - looks like an EF-40 or better. Redbook has it at $50 (EF-40), however the reverse may lower the value. Suggest it gets taken to a coin shop and have a hands on opinion given to you. I love this coin - the 1st us coin to have the motto " iN GOD WE TRUST". My favorite coin, have 60 plus in my collection. Very nice coin.
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If the mark is incuse then it can't be a die gouge. In that case it's damaged. And that's a shame.
Ouch!
Your subsequent picture seems to show thin cuts with raised ridges on either side.
Thank you for your comments.
I graded the coin to be Ef maybe Au but the mark on the low part of the reverse really baffled me, thus this post.
The mark doesn’t appear to be part of a design or to be a normal scratch, from like a staple. I never seen a mark like this from the mint so I am thinking it is some type damage based off of comments so far.
For some reason you see these types of cuts on 18th century coins.
A thin sharp blade cuts into the coin and the displaced metal becomes a raised line. Sometimes the cut itself is hard to see.
It's weird that it stops right at the edge of the design element on the two and wheat ear. That would be tough to do with that exactness.
Those appear to be slice marks, from a knife or other tool.
So this coin, although generally nice, will always be considered to be damaged and will not get a problem-free grade at any major service.
True, but it's not a scratch that might skip across the surface, it's a cut that would easily stop at the raised elements.
With the raised edges, apparent in the pictures, I would call this PMD. Though I have no idea how, or what, caused it. Cheers, RickO
You see this now and then with deep scratches. The scratch creates a trough that pushes up the displaced metal so that the whole thing looks raised, like a die break or gouge. When you really examine it, it’s actually a ditch, which makes it post mint damage.