FEEDER MECHANISM DIE DAMAGE PATTERNS ≈1990 to 2018

Pete2226

FEEDER MECHANISM DIE DAMAGE PATTERNS ≈1990 to 2018

I have been studying Feeder Mechanism Die Damage Patterns and the types of Feeder Mechanisms in use at the US Mint in different time periods. Many folks have contributed to my efforts by providing photos of Die Damage for me to include in my Census. I make educational use of some of these photos with credit. I thank everyone for this support and for your insight, advice, and encouragement!

I have prepared a series of articles in which I have attempted to organize and summarize my findings into an easy-to-use reference so that the most likely Feeder Mechanism causing a certain die damage pattern may be identified. The information is divided by time periods: This is a highly condensed summary of a small section of the research I have been pursuing, periodically, for the last 2+ years.

• 1896 to 1945 in COINWEEK 2/19/2026
https://coinweek.com/feeder-mechanisms-and-die-damage-patterns-1896-1945/

• 1945 to ≈1990 COINWEEK 3/10/2026
https://coinweek.com/feeder-mechanisms-and-die-damage-patterns-1945-≈1990/

• ≈1990 to 2018

• 2018 to present

The current article in the series for • ≈1990 to 2018 may be found here:
COINWEEK 4/2/2026
https://coinweek.com/feeder-mechanism-die-damage-patterns-1990-2018-a-diagnostic-guide-for-collectors/

This is a highly condensed summary of a small section of the research I have been pursuing, periodically, for the last 2+ years.

Clackamas1

Thanks, I always wondered how those were formed. What really bothers me the most with modern coins is the counter marks. On Lincoln's you just cant get away from them, like a pale rubber look.

Pete2226

@Clackamas1 said:
Thanks, I always wondered how those were formed. What really bothers me the most with modern coins is the counter marks. On Lincoln's you just cant get away from them, like a pale rubber look.

I gather that you are talking about counter stamps? Some modern examples here:

http://lincolncentsonline.com/Counter Stamped Cents.html

Clackamas1

@Pete2226 said:

@Clackamas1 said:
Thanks, I always wondered how those were formed. What really bothers me the most with modern coins is the counter marks. On Lincoln's you just cant get away from them, like a pale rubber look.

I gather that you are talking about counter stamps? Some modern examples here:

http://lincolncentsonline.com/Counter Stamped Cents.html

No not at all the coin counters at the mint leave a trail of fine scratched on Lincoln cents and take a coin that should be an MS69 and make it a 65.

MtW124

Great information, thank you for posting this.

Pete2226

@MtW124 said:
Great information, thank you for posting this.

Thank you!

Pete2226

@Clackamas1 said:

@the coin counters at the mint leave a trail of fine scratched on Lincoln cents and take a coin that should be an MS69 and make it a 65.

I am interested in learning about the source where you find this information about the coin counters

Clackamas1

@Pete2226 said:

@Clackamas1 said:

@the coin counters at the mint leave a trail of fine scratched on Lincoln cents and take a coin that should be an MS69 and make it a 65.

I am interested in learning about the source where you find this information about the coin counters

Personal observation, I have looked at tens of thousands of modern BU Lincoln's. All the modern Lincoln guys know what these are. I use to grade them and sell them making many of the Top pops for my sets but also to sell to fund my other coins.

Pete2226

@Clackamas1 > @Clackamas1 said:

@Pete2226 said:

@Clackamas1 said:

@ All the modern Lincoln guys know what these are.

While I began collecting in 1948, but did not become more seriously interested until 1966 when I bought my first numismatic book, I am not one of the "modern Lincoln guys" who know what these are.

I have been unable to find ANY reference to "counter marks" from a mint counting machine in the numismatic literature ► I am genuinely interested in learning and apologize for troubling you. Would you be willing to show me a photo of what these marks look like?

EDIT: I just realized you are talking about WHEEL MARKS!