Is "struck through grease" interesting?

kellymac

It would appear these are not rare, seemingly less so in Philly, so maybe that's my answer. (They must not have a good die cleaning class in Philadelphia!) But here are some what-ifs, from the few thousand or so coins I've been "casually examining" lately (oh, my eyes!):

1--what if you have a few coins with a progression, showing how the grease wears off?
2--what if the S/T obscures a couple of letters completely, but leaves the rest of the design untouched?
3--what if the strike through (grease or otherwise) makes a neat new surface on the coin? (someone posted about keelboat nickels with patterned surface--I'm seeing the same on the bisons.)

. . . there was another, but I forgot . . . does anyone here have other thoughts on what makes S/Ts interesting, or, really, valuable?

Also related--does a S/T affect the grade? I have quite a few lovely Lincoln cents, but the S/T shaves off a part of the head and (less noticeably) the suit jacket. In some cases the reverse has the same. I say it's a S/T grease and not post-mint damage because there are several with the exact same pattern, and I think I can see (in many of these) streaks from wiping off the grease. I guess I'm confused, though, because while interesting, it makes for a not-so-good strike--which I would think would lower the grade. Does it?

thanks!
Kelly

Shamika

"Struck though grease" has no premium (unless it's extreme!), but your first scenario showing the progression is interesting from a numismatic perspective. I'd keep such a series for my own educational purposes.

Scenarios 2 and 3 are of not much interest.

S/T will affect grade, but probably only in super high grades. A coin won't grade MS70 with S/T, but a coin that otherwise would grade MS63, would likely not be downgraded with S/T.

JrGMan2004

Hi Kelly, Welcome to the Forums

Generally in my experience, grease strike-thrus generally don't bring any premium and is not very interesting, because they are fairly common... now, cloth and wire struck-thrus generally do bring a premium, because they are less common, and are cooler, especially cloth

#1 would be interesting...

#2 Filled Letters can be cool, and sought after especially on Morgans by VAMers...

#3 Meh, I guess... but... Meh...

tmot99

I have 4 2004-P Kennedys that are struck through grease and you can see the progression. I've just hung on to them not really knowing what to do with them. I was wondering if NGC would holder them in a multi-coin holder or not.

Weiss

I sold one a few weeks back I found in change. It was a Texas quarter, struck through on both sides. But the cool part was that the texture of the struck thru area was identical to the topo of the map of Texas. It also "redrew" the outline of the state, making it look like Texas had annexed New and Old Mexico. The effect looks better in person:



Got $5.55 for it.

Shamika

<< <i>It also "redrew" the outline of the state, making it look like Texas had annexed New and Old Mexico. >>

MadMarty

It would depend on who is striking who, and how much grease is involved!

hookooekoo

A S/T that obscures a part of the design will sale for a couple of bucks ($5 - $25 or more) depending upon how interesting it is. These are relatively rare (I find maybe 1 out of every 1,000 - 10,000 coins I go through in mint bags).

A S/T that just affects the fields or weakens the design just makes for an ugly coin and are worthless and common as dirt. These probably account for 10% of the coins is see in mint bags.

BillJones

I know that I'll catch some flac, but here's my view of coins that are stuck through greese ...



It takes all kinds of collectors to make a hobby.

kellymac

madmarty, that would be "whom," or "who is striking whom and how much grease"

Actually, thanks everyone, this is great info--and I guess the confusion is mostly because of the variety of collectors moreso than the coins . . .

But just to clarify terminology--is a strikethrough considered a "mint error" or is it its own designation?

Shamika

I'm not an error guy, but yes, I'd consider these mint errors when the S/T is severe.

MadMarty

Oh great another friggan' english teacher!

BillJones

"Struck through" anything (greese, string, cloth, whatever) is a mint error. It is the result of a mistake at the mint.

Outhaul

Kelly,

Turn your PM on, important.

Cheers,

Bob

bushmaster8

Some years back, I sent a couple ST grease 1992-P Kennedy's to PCGS. They were MS66-67 coins IMHO, but PCGS gave them both

MS64. So I do think they were downgraded because of the ST. The stuck thru area on these was about a 4-5mm area right on the

high point of the cheek.

Wolf359

Grease filled dies which hide letters have resulted in at least 8 different
vams in 1921-D Morgans, including the Top 100 TRUT coin. And yes, the
error progression on these coins would be fascinating.

P.S. Welcome to the boards.

GoYankees

I remember ANACS slabbing an SLQ w/ the notation "struck through grease" that was on sale at eBay. I the devices had the appearance of a "worn" look.

p8nt

S/T will affect grade, but probably only in super high grades. A coin won't grade MS70 with S/T, but a coin that otherwise would grade MS63, would likely not be downgraded with S/T. >>





I have a Massachusetts SHQ with a strike through grease and the last couple letters dont show.. it is graded PCGS MS67.

Baley

Is "struck through grease" interesting?

I dunno. Let's see the coin.

generally, it's neutral to negative, unless somewhat spectacular, as in it makes the design look different, not just defective.

Shamika

<< <i>I have a Massachusetts SHQ with a strike through grease and the last couple letters dont show.. it is graded PCGS MS67. >>


Of course, the real question is "what would it have graded without the strike through"?

RotatedRainbows

Struck thru grease on a Proof coin would have more appeal then a mint state example.