Is this corrosion?

TwoKopeiki

I've taken a close look at my very crude Guadalajara War of Independence 8 Reales (no-dot-before-HISPAN variety) and was wondering about the surfaces. Opinions?

Here's the overall image:



There's some major die rust on and around the right pillar on the reverse:



What looks like an attempt at cleaning something off (hairlines under the crown):



What has me puzzled is the surface around the right pillar - looks like tiny beads on the surface. Is this corrosion, or is it also die rust? What do you guys think?



Opinions? Ideas?

P.S. I would love to own the 1813 Guadalajara 8 Reale piece that NEN has for sale on their site and I think if it's still there in a month - I'll pull the trigger...

lordmarcovan

I think if you have something that is pretty convincingly die rust in one area, then die rust is gonna be your strongest suspect for the other area. Not that I would know much about die rust- but if you are convinced one area is, I would say it is pretty logical to assume it's what's going on in the other part of the reverse.

Sounds convincing enough to me, anyway.

Hussulo

I whould also go with die rust. If it is corrosion it is old corrosion as it is toned over, and it looks like nice original patina/tone.

GDJMSP

My opinion, struck with a rusty die. Coin surfaces struck with a rusty die tend to be raised as it was the surface of the die that was eaten away. With corrosion, it is the surface of the coin that was eaten away which results in depressions on the surface of the coin - not raised areas.

coinkat

I think it could be. Honestly, I would rather see the coin in hand to offer my thoughts.

TwoKopeiki

It's most like what happened, I would guess, as well. It's just very interesting to see two distinct types of damage to the die. Would love to do a die study out of this and maybe in 10-15 years I'll accumulate enough to be able to...