What are hairlines?

GaryMcColley

I read everyone talking about hairlines what are they? and how do they hurt the grade??

Gary

LucyBop

No hairlines here

Russ

These are hairlines:



And, yes, they hurt the grade. More than a very few, very tiny ones and the coin will not grade above 64. PCGS hates hairlines.

Russ, NCNE

GaryMcColley

Ok my next question what is the cause of them! is it something with the strike or miss handling the coin?

Are they on both Proof and regular strike coin?

DaveG

A variety of things are called "hairlines", but, essentially, hairlines are scratches on a coin's surface that are too fine to be called "scratches" by most collectors.

You can frequently see hairlines on 19th century proof coins that are from the surface of the coin being wiped with a fine cloth or tissue paper. Another source of hairlines or, if serious enough, "scratches", are the plastic slides on Dansco-type albums. On a Kennedy, for example, you'll see several fine, parallel marks on Kennedy's cheek that are from the plastic slide being slid back and forth.

They hurt the grade because they are either evidence of abrasive cleaning or damage to the coin.

ksteelheader

I think I saw some nice "no hairlines"!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ken

LucyBop

Lakesammman

Hairlines can be difficult to differentiate from die polish lines.

Hairlines are fine scratches/depressions in the coin surface that often run up over the devices. Russ's coin is a good example.

Die polish lines are fine raised lines on the fields that typically stop before the devices. They add interest to a coin and don't decrease the value.

ARCO

Hairlines are the single biggest destroyer of coins in my opinion. The reflected light from a hairlined coin makes it looks all washed out and dampens the contrasts and luster between the devices and fields.

Kind of like going to a great strip club just to see the overweight bouncer get on the stage and shake his goods!