What are field stripes?

Goldbully

First time I heard this term.

Thank you.

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Description

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1880-S Ten Dollar, MS62 Prooflike
Rare in This Grade, None Certified Finer
1880-S $10 MS62 Prooflike PCGS. Tiny S Mintmark. While 1880-S eagles are relatively plentiful up to the MS62 grade from the large 506,250-piece mintage, prooflike examples are rare. This is a flashy and reflective ten dollar gold that displays moderate contrast between the mirrorlike fields and the central motifs. Full reflectivity is seen between the field stripes. This attractive, orange-gold coin with a sharp strike and only a touch of weakness on the upper hair bun. It is tied for the finest prooflike at PCGS. Population: 2 in 62 Prooflike, 0 finer (2/24).

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Heritage Link

messydesk

Shield stripes?

TomB

I agree they mean "shield stripes" on the reverse.

bsshog40

Auto-correct strikes again. Not many people proof their wording anymore. They rely on technology to do the work for them.

messydesk

Maybe a transcription error from a hand-written description by someone who, while lamenting the demise of the long s, wrote "ſhield".

Insider3

@TomB said:
I agree they mean "shield stripes" on the reverse.

I don't think so. It would have said "field stripes" (_whatever the hell that auction writer is describing _for some imperfection in the fields either caused by the mint or after!) in the shield.

Perhaps there are some "planchet striations" in the field that were not struck out completely.

bsshog40

Or maybe "In the Fields of the shield stripes" would have been better comprehended.

jmlanzaf

@Insider3 said:

@TomB said:
I agree they mean "shield stripes" on the reverse.

I don't think so. It would have said "field stripes" (_whatever the hell that auction writer is describing _for some imperfection in the fields either caused by the mint or after!) in the shield.

Perhaps there are some "planchet striations" in the field that were not struck out completely.

Why can't it mean just "field stripes"? It's the location of the reflectivity not a stripe-like feature.

"Full reflectivity is seen between the shield stripes. "

ms71

@messydesk said:
Maybe a transcription error from a hand-written description by someone who, while lamenting the demise of the long s, wrote "ſhield".

Wouldn't it then have been "fhield ftripef?

jacrispies

Or perhaps it is multi struck with the first strike off center and the shield visible in the field. Shield stripes in the field = Field Stripes!!!

Insider3

Some coins have the bars or stripes of the field clashed on to the obverse under the ear but the writer would have more properly mentioned clash marks and the ear is not "in the field." I stand by my original opinion:

Some type of imperfection in the fields either caused by the mint or after!

messydesk

@ms71 said:

@messydesk said:
Maybe a transcription error from a hand-written description by someone who, while lamenting the demise of the long s, wrote "ſhield".

Wouldn't it then have been "fhield ftripef?

ſhield ſtripes. The terminal s is always written as a round or short s.

Insider3

OK, found it. The background of a shield can be referred to as its field. It has another name. So the auction is describing the fully P/L surface between the stripes. IMO, It could have been described more correctly so it was more understandable.

Insider3

"The surface of the shield (or escutcheon) is the field. This is divided into chief and base (top and bottom), sinister and dexter (left and right, from the viewpoint of the bearer of the shield, so that sinister is on the right of one facing the shield)."

MFeld

@Insider3 said:
OK, found it. The background of a shield can be referred to as its field. It has another name. So the auction is describing the fully P/L surface between the stripes. IMO, It could have bee described more correctly so it was more understandable.

I don’t think “field” entered into the mind of the cataloguer, that he intended to write “shield” and have emailed him.

Edited to add: Correction has been made and should be reflected in the description later today.
@Goldbully, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

FrankH

Gules

gules (uncountable)

(heraldry) Red, e.g. on a coat of arms, typically represented in engraving by vertical parallel lines.
gules:

Insider3

@MFeld said:

@Insider3 said:
OK, found it. The background of a shield can be referred to as its field. It has another name. So the auction is describing the fully P/L surface between the stripes. IMO, It could have bee described more correctly so it was more understandable.

I don’t think “field” entered into the mind of the cataloguer, that he intended to write “shield” and have emailed him.

Edited to add: Correction has been made and should be reflected in the description later today.
@Goldbully, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Ain't the Internet wonderful!

messydesk

@FrankH said:
Gules

gules (uncountable)

(heraldry) Red, e.g. on a coat of arms, typically represented in engraving by vertical parallel lines.
gules:

In this case, the reflectivity cited was in the argent parts of the shield.

Goldbully

All better now........😊

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messydesk

@Goldbully said:
All better now........😊

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Yup, although I was really hoping for a return of the long s.