1878-cc strike through

tradedollarnut

Always remembered that the Norweb coin had a distinctive mark near the 4th star

http://images.pcgs.com/CoinFacts/60170712_1279595_2200.jpg

And now I came across this coin proving something was adhering to the die

https://www.lccoins.com/type-coins/trade-dollars/certified-en-29/1878-cc-trade-dollar-genuine-scratch-au-details-pcgs.html

AUandAG

The debris, likely wood, is changing with each strike. It adhered to the die and each strike seems to be eroding it?

bob

AMRC

This is a great catch. The size and shape of the object is nearly identical, which supports the theory that this was a piece of something (wood I would guess) that floated between the strikes.

Very impressive observation.

messydesk

@afford said:

@AUandAG said:
The debris, likely wood, is changing with each strike. It adhered to the die and each strike seems to be eroding it?

bob

I could agree with this explanation with my little knowledge of the minting process. But they are in different locations and the sizes are definitely different.

This is fine. First strike through deformed the wood and it stuck to the die, but perhaps slid a bit. Subsequent strikes created nearly, but not completely, identical strike-thrus until the offending piece of wood was liberated from the coining chamber. The same thing happens with mint schmutz (or perhaps, after lunch, schmaltz).

oih82w8

What a beauty of a coin (Norweb)!

http://images.pcgs.com/trueview/60170712

Looks like a DDR as well! Pick Up Point: "420 Grains"

FredWeinberg

As mentioned above, given that the rectangular area
didn't change size very much at all, I'd agree it was
probably a small wood chip.

Given how many of these I saw at the West Point Mint
when I examined the "CC" dollar hoard for the GSA,
(and how many are still out there with an actual small
piece of wood still on the coin), I'm not surprised to see
a Trade Dollar with the same error type from that Mint.

It's the first T.D. I recall like this, but I'd guess there should
be a few more out there -maybe a few from this striking,
and a few others of all dates.

brg5658

I'm quite sure they are in the same place, and that the photography angle could be slightly different. Below is the animated overlay photo.

MsMorrisine

going through """fresh from the mint""" boxes of new small dollars, I have seen strike-throughs "move." I'd call it a common enough thing.

ricko

@brg5658...excellent overlay display...
Thanks Fred, for your input... confirming the wood chip theory.
Cheers, RickO

Coin Finder

On the overlay above the debris is not touching the star and in one photo it clearly is.....maybe the woods expanded as it was struck?

Rittenhouse

There are a number of possible explanations. It certainly could be a piece of "wood" as sawdust and corn cob was commonly used to dry planchets after whitening and rinse. It could also be a metal fragment. It is not unusual for material adhering to dies to change shape from the presssure of striking or even to grow larger or smaller as additional material adheres or some flakes off.

One of the best examples is the J63 through J105 Starless reverse group of Gobrecht dollar Cabinet Coins with the low spot at F of OF. IN that car lapping compound or some sort of grease combined with harder material was adhering to the die, some additional material initially stuck fast, and in subsequent striking it began to be smashed and flake off.

See gobechtdollars.com for a full explanation.