One Ike, Two Thumbs, Two Months

moursund

You may recall my "Ike Ear Challenge" thread.
I pondered whether a CuNi clad Ike could be given appreciable wear by rubbing only with thumb.

The forum was skeptical...

Well, I diligently carried that Ike around, and worked it with my thumb (or my other thumb) typically for 2-3 hours a day.
I rubbed at it while doing my daily walk, while watching TV in the evening, while reading a book...
By my rough estimate, I gave well over a million rubs.

I worked at it from 29 November until about Feb 6th, when the damned thing disappeared.
Well, I was getting tired of it anyway.

Did it wear?

Before: (29 Nov)

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After: (taken 04 Feb... not the best pic, but the most recent I have)

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Conclusion:

• It polished nicely, and there is certainly wear.
• Probably went from ~AU55 to ~XF45.
• Wear was noticeable on the ear high points after just a week or two; after that, the progress really slowed.

So clad coin can be worn by thumbs alone, no extra abrasives, no jangling around with other objects.
It can even happen in a relatively short time.

ON THE WHOLE, a good experiment.

p.s. I think his eye closed a little during the 2 months, and he isn't smiling quite as much now...

Mr_Spud

The first thing I noticed was that Ike wasn’t smiling in the after image. You must of rubbed him the wrong way 😉

CuKevin

This is how most coins are worn down in circulation, that is by trading hands.

moursund

@Mr_Spud said:
The first thing I noticed was that Ike wasn’t smiling in the after image. You must of rubbed him the wrong way 😉

Wish I had sad that!

moursund

@CuKevin said:
This is how most coins are worn down in circulation, that is by trading hands.

Forum consensus was vast majority of wear comes from jangling in pocket with other coins.

tommy44

What's your thumb look like?

Namvet69

What'cha eat that was greasy cause that latent print on his forehead screams of bbq. Peace Roy

ThreeCentSilverFL

Rub on! Wait, you lost it?

moursund

@Namvet69 said:
What'cha eat that was greasy cause that latent print on his forehead screams of bbq. Peace Roy

Not to worry... Wherever I put on a print, I would rub it away again... 😉

moursund

@ThreeCentSilverFL said:
Rub on! Wait, you lost it?

Maybe it wore away to nothing?

Steven59

( the damned thing disappeared.)

Found it!

ricko

No doubt about the wear... Thanks for the experiment and pictures. Now someone will find it in a parking lot and post it here as an error coin.... Cheers, RickO

moursund

Yowsa! My wife found the Ike in the dog's bed. It has some new scratches for me to run off. 😂
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Steven59

@moursund said:
[ Yowsa! My wife found the Ike in the dog's bed. }

I'd put it back in the dog's bed. Looks like he was getting better results

moursund

@Steven59 said:

@moursund said:
[ Yowsa! My wife found the Ike in the dog's bed. }

I'd put it back in the dog's bed. Looks like he was getting better results

It is surprising how good that smooooth Ike head feels under my thumb, after a couple of weeks away. Ahhhh