Adjustment Marks ?
Johnscott6443
Posts: 29 ✭
I’d like everyone’s opinion as to whether or not these are adjustment marks made on my 1834 Half Eagle ?
I believe they are !
I think that after 1840 the practice of adjusting in the fields was virtually stopped because adjustments could be made on the rims easier and without affecting the queens look.
Thoughts ?
Thanks
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Terribly sorry I guess I should’ve figured out how to upload a picture before I sent the discussion
Hope you can see this
Darn
I give up 😞
You are not a full member yet
Give it a couple of days and see if you are given it
Welcome to the forums
Just try again with the picture in a few days...
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@Johnscott6443.... Welcome aboard... Do not give up.... You will be able to post shortly... Forum protocol prevents new members from posting pictures right away. Cheers, RickO
I am a full-fledged member as of today yippee 👌
I would appreciate members thoughts on my posting of the picture of my half eagle with what I believe are adjustment Marks
Sorry, they appear to be pin scratches, because they begin and end abruptly, and are fairly uniform in depth. Adjustment marks generally taper in severity where they end, and often climb devices. They also vary in depth, and are not curved at all. I have a couple of coins imaged that explain:
Scratches. Not adjustment marks
Thank you for your input, it appears to me that all the lines are perfectly straight some have a little diagonal angle. The two coins you provided pictures of are significantly earlier than this 1834 is it possible the method changed over the years or between mints ?
The marks seem so straight and calculated I can’t imagine who would want to scratch a coin like that for no apparent reason. I appreciate your obvious expertise and thank you for your time.
Scott
Unfortunately, the marks on your coin are scratches, not adjustment marks.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I guess I can look on the Bright side of things and figure it’s still worth over $400 lol
PMD.
The only thing those lines are adjusting is the coin's desirability.
I used to collect the classic head gold series, quarters and $5 by die variety, and I don't recall any adjustment marks, and a quick search of the Heritage archives don't show any. There are adjustment marks on capped bust and capped head $5's, at least through the 1820's. The adjustment marks are finer and generally found on the rim and dentils. The Mint apparently changed from rasp cut or cross cut files to finer b(a)stard cut files around 1807, which leave finer adjustment marks. The Mint employed adjusters until the late 1800's and it appears all of the adjusting was done on the edge after about 1830. There could be a few exceptions.
The TPG's generally don't lower grades for adjustment marks (check out current Heritage 1795 half dollar PCGS 40) but on MS coins they might drop a point or two.
When do scratches become graffiti? Honest question folks, relates to the OP coin. Thanks…
My personal opinion- when the scratches create an intentional design.
I don’t necessarily agree that intent should matter, but I agree that the above stated distinction seems to be the case.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I'll just add that adjustment marks will generally "tone in" and collect dirt like the rest of the surface; scratches are mostly brighter since they cut through the coin's surface patina.
Or maybe an intentional defacement of the coin? Some designs are to be questioned.
If it’s not some type of design, how do you know if it’s intentional?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
And if it is some type of design, how do you know if it's just pareidolia?
Of course I don’t know it’s intentional. Sure looks like it to me though.
What if the scratches spell out the words "these scratches are not intentional"?
If you’re talking about the coin in the first post, regardless of whether it would be considered “scratches” or “graffiti”, I doubt it would straight grade. But to your point about “intentional” - the reason I’d prefer that intent not be taken into consideration, is because many times, we can’t determine intent.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I see it as more of a guideline than a hard-and-fast rule. Kind of like the difference between natural and artificial toning.
After seeing all the comments my feelings are this. What a shame it’s been defaced and for what reason who will ever know.
It’s too uniform and intentional to be graffiti or to be conveying any type of message or meaning.
Aside from that it’s a really pretty Coin.
Agree. Intent would have to be Standardized. I sit on 2 ASTM committees and it’s hard enough to agree on anything close to something like that…