Are hairlines always an indication that a coin has been cleaned?

mtnman

I bought a raw 1837 Bust half from JJ Teaparty. They called it a no problem AU58 coin.

Received the coin today and there are many hairlines on the coin. More on the obverse. Are these
always an indication that the coin has been cleaned.

I haven't been able to get a decent enough picture to show what I'm talking about.

CarlWohlforth

A coin can get hairlines from circulation. If that bust half was in somebody's pocket along with other coins it could get hairlined that way...

DorkGirl

Die polish lines will look like hairlines too sometimes.

mtnman

<< <i>Die polish lines will look like hairlines too sometimes. >>



So how can you tell the difference?

Purple73

die spolish lines are raised , lines from cleaning are grooves

fivecents

Die polish lines are raised.
Hairlines are down into the surface of the coin.

skydivdav

God, you people are smart.
david

fivecents

Also Die polish lines won't be on the devices of the coin...only in the fields.

ARCO

Directional hairlines are from a cleaning. Coins that circulate can get light hairlines, but they don't tend to be directional, and are sporadic and diffused. I can tell if a coin has been cleaned by tilting the coin. Usually you will see the light diffuse on the coin differently and the hairlines spring into view. You also notice that the open fields tend to show the hairlines the best.

How many millions of coins have been impaired by cleaning and now have strong hairlines? Way too many.

Tyler

Purple73

Here is an awesome Picture from JRocco that shows Die Polish lines( pretty cool) notice how straight they are

mtnman

You guys are awsome. I've learned a lot this evening.

coinguy1

<< <i>Here is an awesome Picture from JRocco that shows Die Polish lines( pretty cool) notice how straight they are >>

They (die polish lines) are not always straight, though.

tmot99

Die polish lines also typically only seen in the fields where a cleaning can be seen in the fields and devices

JRocco

As I learned from errormaven, and as is shown on my 69D Lincoln in Chris's (Purple) post above, die polish lines can sometimes be seen above and below the devices. This coin shows both on the same polish line.

Varlis

Post a picture of the half. Even if it's not close-up, it would give us a better idea of what you're talking about--if you have Teaparty's pic, that would work.

PS: Tilting the coin is key, as Arco said.

JrGMan2004

<< <i>A coin can get hairlines from circulation. If that bust half was in somebody's pocket along with other coins it could get hairlined that way... >>

I have a bust half-dime thats like this... I don't think it's been cleaned, but it's definately been scuffed up, and has plenty of hairlines across it...

mtnman

How do you post a picture from e-bay?

Varlis

Put the link into the "http" box and we can go right to the auction.

DHeath

Here's a pic of a no FG Kennedy that illustrates the lines stopping at the devices pretty well.

Purple73

<< <i>How do you post a picture from e-bay? >>



1)Right click on the picture,

2)select properties,

3)highlight in blue the http link and right click it,

4)select copy,

5)Then inside your message(on this forum) right click and select paste ,

6)then add {IMG] these tags [/IMG} on the outside of the link. I change the bracket so you can see. You need to use these brackets [ ]

If you do this right an image will appear inside your message. This is an alterative to using the Image icon to the right of the U(underline icon) at the top.

hope this helps.

mtnman

http://www.jjteaparty.com/ebhttp://www.jjteaparty.com/ebay/e1668.jpgay/e1668.jpg

Myqqy

It looks like jjteaparty took down the picture.....

BillJones

Older coins could also get hairlined when they were stored in coin cabinets. Velvet might look and feel nice and soft, but if a coin slides back and forth on it, hairlines can be the result. Hairlines can also be caused by coin to coin contact.