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Possible Mint Error Silver Eagle

Jinx86Jinx86 Posts: 3,729 ✭✭✭✭✭

Also posted on the Precious Metals forum.

Going through several original rolls of 86 eagles and found this specimen. I've never found one with this kind of super satin finish, it almost appears as fine sandpaper. Could this be a struck through sanding disk? If not what other culprits are out there?


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    jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 42,344 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It looks like spotting on the surface. Are you sure it's not just a foreign substance?

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

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    CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 34,029 ✭✭✭✭✭

    How does the reverse look?

    In the early days of the program it was normal for the West Point Mint to "re-grit" the surfaces of the dies every now and then by placing a disk of sandpaper grit down on the lower die, a planchet atop that, and then another disk of sandpaper grit up on top of that and striking everything. The surfaces of the dies would get a nice matte finish that the Mint wanted to be imparted to subsequent coins.

    The planchet in the middle would be recycled, but at least one coin is known with the disk of sandpaper accompanying it. The surface of the coin is much less distinct than this, so my best guess is that this coin was struck from a freshly "gritted" die.

    TD

    Numismatist. 54 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Also won the PNG's Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
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    FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 6,031 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Capt. - the coin pictured is not one of the
    'Struck Thru Sanding Disc' coins.

    (and there are plenty of them with the
    actual dark 3M Sanding Disc with the
    ASE coin, not just one......)

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
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    rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It certainly has a different surface appearance.... I have not seen one like it over the years, and I have a lot of them. Cheers, RickO

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    Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I've seen this finish before. Possibly the Mint was playing around with the first issue (1986) of these coins. I never considered them to be special. Perhaps they are.

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    AUandAGAUandAG Posts: 25,038 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes, I've seen them too. Sold one to MorganMan here on the forum a couple of weeks ago in a batch of silver he bought. He said that it sure stuck out too.

    bob

    Registry: CC lowballs (boblindstrom), bobinvegas1989@yahoo.com

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