What caused this on MS Mercury obverse?

islemangu

Around the head on both sides is sudden break of surface appearance change almost like smooth tiny PL from surrounding white.
Any help appreciated.

lordmarcovan

No clue here.

Conder101

Can't tell from the pictures. I can tell that this was probably one of the last coins from this die. With that bisecting die crack that die didn't last much longer. (crack from rim by T in Liberty to feathers, down across the wing just inside he feather tips, down Liberty's neck, across the bust to the rim between 6:00 and 7:00)

Dog97

You can see the radial flow lines in the fields then it changes to pl I'd say because of die polishing. Even though the die was in a late state & cracked they probably polished it up and tried to get a few thousand more strikes from it.

remumc

The Dog is right, it's die polish. Not uncommon on Mercs. Cool die crack!

Regards,

Wayne

ibzman350

Condor...damn you guys are good....All I saw was a nice dime, then once you mentioned the die crack...sure enough there it is one of these days , when I grow up, hopefully I'll be able to see stuff like that.

Herb

lordmarcovan

I saw the die crack, but didn't think about die polishing lines.

islemangu

Thank you for your help