A tiny mystery - line on an 1830 half dime obverse

Bikergeek

Capped Bust half dimes are small. Things that fit on them are intrinsically tiny. The obverse of this 1830 coin appears to have a die crack from rim to Star 2. However, such a crack is unknown on 1830 Obverse 3. I got out the macro, and with a strong sidelight (from about the 8 o'clock position on the second, detailed image below) I took a closeup of Star 2. Does anyone have any guesses as to what the line is?

TheGasMan

It looks like it might be a fiber that was on the planchet when struck. It appears that the metal formed around it on both ends. Is it raised? It looks like it. It may have been partially pressed into the planchet on striking.?

Walkerguy21D

A fiber or hair seems reasonable to me, but I’m mostly impressed with your photography and that beautiful coin.

TheGasMan

@Walkerguy21D said:
A fiber or hair seems reasonable to me, but I’m mostly impressed with your photography and that beautiful coin.

Yes, the coin and photography are exceptional. What is that perfect circle that appears dead center of the coin? Is that a gate on the plastic slab or is that in the coin?

TomB

Also appears to me to be some type of fiber that has adhered to the surface of the coin over time.

mach19

Halfdime might be able to answer your question

Walkerguy21D

@TheGasMan said:

@Walkerguy21D said:
A fiber or hair seems reasonable to me, but I’m mostly impressed with your photography and that beautiful coin.

Yes, the coin and photography are exceptional. What is that perfect circle that appears dead center of the coin? Is that a gate on the plastic slab or is that in the coin?

Isn’t that the centering mark?
I’ve seen it on bust halves and large cents before.

Bikergeek

@Walkerguy21D said:

@TheGasMan said:

@Walkerguy21D said:
A fiber or hair seems reasonable to me, but I’m mostly impressed with your photography and that beautiful coin.

Yes, the coin and photography are exceptional. What is that perfect circle that appears dead center of the coin? Is that a gate on the plastic slab or is that in the coin?

Isn’t that the centering mark?
I’ve seen it on bust halves and large cents before.

That center circle is a sure pickup point on that particular obverse. Logan and McCloskey called this obverse "dotted date" because of the little dot that precedes the 1 in the date, to the immediate left of the foot of the 1. But they add, "prominent center dot" and "stars 6 and 7 close" as additional identifiers.

The line is raised, and I can buy that it is some foreign material like a thread. But it's so well attached, I haven't seen quite the likes of it before.

TheGasMan

@Bikergeek said:

@Walkerguy21D said:

@TheGasMan said:

@Walkerguy21D said:
A fiber or hair seems reasonable to me, but I’m mostly impressed with your photography and that beautiful coin.

Yes, the coin and photography are exceptional. What is that perfect circle that appears dead center of the coin? Is that a gate on the plastic slab or is that in the coin?

Isn’t that the centering mark?
I’ve seen it on bust halves and large cents before.

That center circle is a sure pickup point on that particular obverse. Logan and McCloskey called this obverse "dotted date" because of the little dot that precedes the 1 in the date, to the immediate left of the foot of the 1. But they add, "prominent center dot" and "stars 6 and 7 close" as additional identifiers.

The line is raised, and I can buy that it is some foreign material like a thread. But it's so well attached, I haven't seen quite the likes of it before.

Very interesting and educational. I have heard of centering dots/marks but I have actually never seen one. I have heard though that they are rarely seen on the obverse. Thanks for sharing!

2windy2fish

@TheGasMan Here is my 1814 with a centering mark, i believe they are somewhat common.
I’m certain @Bikergeek and @yosclimber will let us know!

Mr_Spud

They must be common for the series, because mine has one too

CivilWarBuff

I don't see anything so unusual, it appears to be a purple thread from someone's clothes attached to the surface of the coin. Nice to see something like that still attached since most will spray air and blow such stuff before encapsulation so it must have been stuck pretty good.
I like it!