Wear vs. a weak strike - a brief discussion and four LARGE images aimed at helping people to know th
coinguy1
Posts: 13,484 ✭✭✭
For many of us, one of the toughest aspects of grading is to be able to distinguish wear from a weak strike.
Certain coins (even in higher mint state condition) are typically found with weak strikes and it's often very difficult to know whether you are looking at a weakly struck coin or one that is slightly worn.
There are a few things to consider and look for, however, in order to be able to tell the difference :
1) Usually, wear from light circulation appears in a slightly different color/shade compared to the rest of a coin's surface. It is often a grayish or whitish color and stands out from the non-worn surface/color. Please note - this color difference can vary, depending upon whether one is examining a silver vs. a copper vs. a gold vs. a nickel coin.
If, on the other hand, the coin is merely softly struck, the weakly struck areas are usually the same color as the remainder of the coin.
2) If a coin is lightly worn, as opposed to weakly struck, in addition to the wear on the high points, there will usually be some evidence of circulation in the fields, too. This evidence often appears as hairlines and/or very minor abrasions and/or impaired luster.
3) It is good to be familiar with the typical strike characteristics of the coin you are examining - to know which issues are typically found with a soft (or worse) strike, for example. This knowledge will give you a better starting point and a better reference upon which to base your conclusions.
Below you will find images of two 1919-S Buffalo nickels. This date is one which is often seen with a mushy strike. The top one is a PCGS AU58 and the bottom one is a PCGS MS64. While it is difficult to see any evidence of circulation in the fields of the AU58 (first) piece, hopefully you can see the difference in color on the slightly worn areas, especially on the obverse. Such is not the case with the weakly struck areas of the MS64 (second) coin.
This is very difficult, but hopefully not impossible to do with images. If enough people are interested, I will try to illustrate these points with other coins and images at a future date. Any feedback and suggestions are welcomed.
AU58:
MS64:
Certain coins (even in higher mint state condition) are typically found with weak strikes and it's often very difficult to know whether you are looking at a weakly struck coin or one that is slightly worn.
There are a few things to consider and look for, however, in order to be able to tell the difference :
1) Usually, wear from light circulation appears in a slightly different color/shade compared to the rest of a coin's surface. It is often a grayish or whitish color and stands out from the non-worn surface/color. Please note - this color difference can vary, depending upon whether one is examining a silver vs. a copper vs. a gold vs. a nickel coin.
If, on the other hand, the coin is merely softly struck, the weakly struck areas are usually the same color as the remainder of the coin.
2) If a coin is lightly worn, as opposed to weakly struck, in addition to the wear on the high points, there will usually be some evidence of circulation in the fields, too. This evidence often appears as hairlines and/or very minor abrasions and/or impaired luster.
3) It is good to be familiar with the typical strike characteristics of the coin you are examining - to know which issues are typically found with a soft (or worse) strike, for example. This knowledge will give you a better starting point and a better reference upon which to base your conclusions.
Below you will find images of two 1919-S Buffalo nickels. This date is one which is often seen with a mushy strike. The top one is a PCGS AU58 and the bottom one is a PCGS MS64. While it is difficult to see any evidence of circulation in the fields of the AU58 (first) piece, hopefully you can see the difference in color on the slightly worn areas, especially on the obverse. Such is not the case with the weakly struck areas of the MS64 (second) coin.
This is very difficult, but hopefully not impossible to do with images. If enough people are interested, I will try to illustrate these points with other coins and images at a future date. Any feedback and suggestions are welcomed.
AU58:
MS64:
0
Comments
Copper, Copper, Copper!
Glenn
Any further examples or updates, would be most welcome.
Thank you, sir for taking the time to help educate your fellow hobbiests.
Jody
Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
~PATRICK HENRY~
My World Coin Type Set
Great thread. I love this kind of info.
How about doing one on Mercury dimes for us guys who are always making AU58's that we thought were MS64's?
Regards,
Wayne
Wayne
www.waynedriskillminiatures.com
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And are these coins for sale?
The reason I ask is I had a Kennedy half with a perfectly strong reverse strike(ms coin) and the obv was so weaky struck that only the top portion of the date was readable. The only readlable part of the date, the top ovals of the 1, 9's and 8's were mushy(extremely wide) and the rest of the obv rim showed the same.
Don't have a pic as the coin is at anacs.
Tom
PS - neither coin is for sale, by us, at least.
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And now you are shilling for Heritage? You should be ashamed!
( A paraphrase among Northmen )
<< <i>The first coin is the AU58 and the second one is the MS64. I have edited my original post and I apologize for any confusion I caused. >>
DOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Geez - I thought I was losing my mind! - Oh nevermind - that happened already!
Anyway Mark - great thread - this is one of the toughest areas to deal with. Peace dollars come to mind as a very tough series to grade sometimes due to weakness in strike.
<< <i>Usually, wear from light circulation appears in a slightly different color/shade compared to the rest of a coin's surface. It is often a grayish or whitish color and stands out from the non-worn surface/color. >>
The same is true of a 1934 - D Peace Dollar I have.
As with #2 and #3, I`ll have to take a closer look when I have a chance. Thanks for the great educational threads Mark!
Great post. The key here is the "buffalo butt".
If you look at the AU, there is obvious wear on the Buffalo's bu, er, "backside".
On the MS, there is a distinctive difference.
In other words, the "buffalo butt" is the "pickup point" for this coin. Such toilet humor
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Great threads. I appreciate that you used the Buffalo. That a series that I enjoy, but haven't studied.
Brian
while wear always starts at the high points and works down. If only some of the high
points are affected than it's caused by a weak strike.
There are often planchet scratches on the areas that are weakly struck which weren't
obliterated by the strike. This area may not appear to have the same luster as the rest
of the coin but it will usually have some luster.
Weakly struck coins can be missing detail even that's well below the high points but
normal wear will not have an impact on these areas until the coin is quite worn.
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
I have a 1908 no motto $10.00 indian in a PCGS AU-58 holder...... A coin notorius for weak strike..I swear it's a 63, and someday I'll send it in for review.
Also, how about showing extreme examples of fantastic strikes and especially poor strikes to REALLY contrast good/poor strikes.
Tom
How about taking a look at some gold, maybe the incuse Indians?
Coinlearner, Ahrensdad, Nolawyer, RG, coinlieutenant, Yorkshireman, lordmarcovan, Soldi, masscrew, JimTyler, Relaxn, jclovescoins, justindan, doubleeagle07
Now listen boy, I'm tryin' to teach you sumthin' . . . . that ain't no optical illusion, it only looks like an optical illusion.
My mind reader refuses to charge me. . . . . . .
BTW, coinguy's 19-S is definately AU. Use the drawing and look at that high point on the Buff's butt and hip. The "plateau" as started to form.
jom
In addition to the points already expressed, a weakly struck coin will show a poorly formed rim and a beveled rim/edge junction. Reeding will be weak on denominations that feature reeding.
How about a Capped Bust Half & an SLQ comparing AU 58 & MS 63 grades?
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"Sou Mangueira......."
<< <i>The grading services should study this thread carefully. Weakly struck coins, including so-called "die trials" are often grossly undergraded. The graders mistake weakly struck areas for areas of wear. They often mistake tumbling marks for bag marks or circulation damage.
In addition to the points already expressed, a weakly struck coin will show a poorly formed rim and a beveled rim/edge junction. Reeding will be weak on denominations that feature reeding. >>
If a strike is weak enough, the planchet won't expand to the limits imposed by the collar. Therefore, its diameter will be slightly less than normal.
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<< <i>Any other suggestions on what coin type(s) to include in a future thread on this topic? Thanks.
-------------------------
Mark Feld of Pinnacle Rarities. >>
The AU vs. weakly struck MS question has kept me from collecting serveral series seriously. I heartily applaud your posting this thread.
Buffalo nickels and Indian head $2.50 or $5.00 gold are the toughest for me. I'd also like to see examples of Peace Dollars, many S-mint Walkers, and the 1907-O dime.