Die Striations On Classic Unc. Coins... Discussion

Nic

Often stand out on fresh die well struck coins, especially repolished clashed dies. The coins themselves are sometimes described as PL or semi-PL.

Not planchet problems like adjustment or roller marks.

I have always considered them a negative, though sometimes there are few choices.

Your thoughts?

Ronyahski

I can count on one hand the number of times that I have turned away from an otherwise nice coin because of too much distraction from die lines. They can bother me a little on proof coins, not so much otherwise.

bosco5041

I just sent in a Morgan dollar that had heavy die striations. I am interested to see how they grade it.

lostincoins

Representative images would be of some help.

Nic

Justacommeman

They are not my jam

MJ

LanceNewmanOCC

.
those marks have nothing to do with the dies. they occur before the flans are struck and most likely before they are stamped out of the stock. pretty sure the term is "roller marks."

i've heard other terms but they escape as of now.
.

indeetlib

Those are roller marks on the quarter, although I do see some fine die finishing lines around stars 3-4. But just so we can fully appreciate that beast of a quarter, here's the truview...

lostincoins

Nic that coin is showing a large amount of roller marks because of the very soft strike, just look at the dentifrices as they have almost no definition.

indeetlib

The sort of die lines the OP is referring to are common on Braided Hair Large Cents. I don't think most collectors see them as a positive or a negative, unless they're collecting die states, but they certainly make attribution a lot easier! Here's an example...

(around the date and behind Liberty)

Nic

Agree.

How about this?



Or this?

Sunnywood

Die striations (striae), aka die polish lines, are incuse hairlines in the upper surfaces of the die, which correspond to raised hairlines in the fields of the coin. They often "skip" the devices on the coin (which are sunken into the die surface, and therefore don't get hit by the polishing tools). One way to differentiate die striae from hairlines is precisely that ... the die lines are limited to the fields, while hairlines resulting from wiping the surface of a coin most definitely continue onto the devices.

Roller marks and planchet adjustments, on the other hand, are impairments to the surfaces of the planchet prior to striking, and are often most visible on the high point of the design, where the metal flow is insufficient to obliterate them. In some cases there appear to be roller marks made post-striking, which are also visible primarily on the raised high points.

Sunnywood

19Lyds

<< <i>Die striations (striae), aka die polish lines, are incuse hairlines in the upper surfaces of the die, which correspond to raised hairlines in the fields of the coin. They often "skip" the devices on the coin (which are sunken into the die surface, and therefore don't get hit by the polishing tools). One way to differentiate die striae from hairlines is precisely that ... the die lines are limited to the fields, while hairlines resulting from wiping the surface of a coin most definitely continue onto the devices.

Roller marks and planchet adjustments, on the other hand, are impairments to the surfaces of the planchet prior to striking, and are often most visible on the high point of the design, where the metal flow is insufficient to obliterate them. In some cases there appear to be roller marks made post-striking, which are also visible primarily on the raised high points.

Sunnywood >>



Striations on the planchet (i.e. roller marks)

LindeDad

One of the reasons many are still around and did not go into circulation as even the older collectors felt that usually it was a coin of interest and put it aside.

fastfreddie

<< <i>Die striations (striae), aka die polish lines, are incuse hairlines in the upper surfaces of the die, which correspond to raised hairlines in the fields of the coin. They often "skip" the devices on the coin (which are sunken into the die surface, and therefore don't get hit by the polishing tools). One way to differentiate die striae from hairlines is precisely that ... the die lines are limited to the fields, while hairlines resulting from wiping the surface of a coin most definitely continue onto the devices.

Roller marks and planchet adjustments, on the other hand, are impairments to the surfaces of the planchet prior to striking, and are often most visible on the high point of the design, where the metal flow is insufficient to obliterate them. In some cases there appear to be roller marks made post-striking, which are also visible primarily on the raised high points.

Sunnywood >>



That sums it up nicely! Thanks! Thanks for the photo's guys!

Shamika

I like them as long as they are not overwhelming.

And since it was mentioned, I love roller marks. They give the coin a certain "raw" quality.

roadrunner

Die striations are quite common on 1860's seated quarters and halves. Roller marks I see a lot on unc Barber halves. I seem to recall that some of the amazing MS66/67 Eliasberg, Norweb, Benton-Emory Barber
halves had roller marks.

Neither one of these issues has really ever bothered me as I'm more into luster, color, and strike first. If the mint made it that way, so be it. I know many people look at these marks as the "plague."

Some of the most amazing gem seated halves of the silver war era are often die striated. I love them just the way they are. They give the coin real character. And I really love it when dealers who don't
know better price these coins as if they were cleaned uncs. No doubt, my view is in the minority.

That 1838 seated quarter is a monster MOOSE. The few die lines do not distract imo. The flat stars are more of a distraction to me. And even those pale against the MS68 luster and surfaces.