Die ring varieties and similar oddballs - any new sightings or possible explanations for these?

IkesT · September 20, 2026 1:39AM

As defined on error-ref.com, die rings are Tiny rings, semicircles, crescents, and spirals that usually appear in the center of the coin or nearby. Their origin is a mystery and it’s likely that they have more than one cause. Many rings are isolated, while others form concentric arrays.

https://www.error-ref.com/die-rings-tiny-rings-semicircles-crescents-and-spirals/

Mike Diamond ( @errormaven ) wrote an article about die rings for Coin World in 2017. I am particularly interested in an oddball 1982 Lincoln cent variety that was mentioned there. It has concentric arrays of irregular polygonal rings around the center of both the obverse and reverse. Has anyone else come across this one or anything similar? Is this likely just due to unorthodox die polishing, or are there other plausible explanations?

Unfortunately, I do not have any other photos of the coin. I seem to recall seeing additional photos in the past, but cannot find them now. Jason Cuvelier used to have a website (errorvariety.com) that catalogued these types of varieties, and that may have been where I saw the photos, but that site is now defunct.

CaptHenway · September 20, 2026 7:40AM

Never saw this pattern before.

The best suggestion that I can come up with for the various rings, arcs (including the so-called extra leaves) and lines (such as the extended ray George Washington dollar) is that some employee in the Engraving Department thinks he is Banksy, and adds graffiti to various dies just to see the reactions when they are discovered.

Then again, why were there dots on certain Morgan dollar dies in the early 1880's?

davewesen · September 20, 2026 9:13AM

I have seen similar on 1938 proof Jefferson nickels. It shows up on the jacket. The only thing I can figure is that the face of the die stock was leveled with a lathe before the impression of the coin was pushed onto it.

coinbuf · September 20, 2026 10:38AM

Aliens are among us.

MsMorrisine · September 20, 2026 3:31PM

new to me too

johnny9434 · September 20, 2026 3:36PM

Its the aliegn edition varity 😣

DesertCoin · September 21, 2026 1:37AM

Probably the original steel retaining some minor weaknesses/irregularities inside the metal relating to when it was made.

BLUEJAYWAY · September 21, 2026 6:46AM

It's an "Omega" cent.😀

FlyingAl · September 21, 2026 7:35AM

Common on Proofs of the 1936-42 era, but can also be found on circulation strikes.

The current theory that was originally proposed by Roger Burdette is that dies are originally given a quick deburring following hubbing with a polishing lap. This would produce concentric rings from the lap.

CaptHenway · September 21, 2026 10:09AM

@FlyingAl said:
Common on Proofs of the 1936-42 era, but can also be found on circulation strikes.

The current theory that was originally proposed by Roger Burdette is that dies are originally given a quick deburring following hubbing with a polishing lap. This would produce concentric rings from the lap.

I politely disagree. Remember that dime with the heavy arc near the ear? Way too deep below the field.

joeykoins · September 21, 2026 12:45PM

Interesting???
I also wasn't aware of these.
So, do you mean to tell me. That the 2022 Maya quarters can actually be the "ring" mystery instead of an actual doubled ear ring?

This picture, actually does look like the one that's mentioned?
The "Die-ring Varieties".

Hmmmmm?

PerryHall · September 21, 2026 1:58PM

Are you sure those aren't rare privy marks?

IkesT · September 21, 2026 3:06PM

@CaptHenway said:

@FlyingAl said:
Common on Proofs of the 1936-42 era, but can also be found on circulation strikes.

The current theory that was originally proposed by Roger Burdette is that dies are originally given a quick deburring following hubbing with a polishing lap. This would produce concentric rings from the lap.

I politely disagree. Remember that dime with the heavy arc near the ear? Way too deep below the field.

He was answering my question regarding the 1982 cent specifically, which is lumped in with this discussion even though it is not a typical "die ring" variety. And it should be noted that even among typical die ring varieties, it is thought there may be different causes.

IkesT · September 21, 2026 3:12PM

@FlyingAl said:
Common on Proofs of the 1936-42 era, but can also be found on circulation strikes.

The current theory that was originally proposed by Roger Burdette is that dies are originally given a quick deburring following hubbing with a polishing lap. This would produce concentric rings from the lap.

Thank you; is this a topic discussed in From Mine to Mint or is it written elsewhere?

Is there any property of the dies that would be likely to lead to treatment localized around the center of the die and with greater intensity than usual, as on the 1982 cent? Or do you think that is more an example of aberrant and/or heavy handed technique?

mr1931S · September 21, 2026 3:20PM

@IkesT said:

@CaptHenway said:

@FlyingAl said:
Common on Proofs of the 1936-42 era, but can also be found on circulation strikes.

The current theory that was originally proposed by Roger Burdette is that dies are originally given a quick deburring following hubbing with a polishing lap. This would produce concentric rings from the lap.

I politely disagree. Remember that dime with the heavy arc near the ear? Way too deep below the field.

He was answering my question regarding the 1982 cent specifically, which is lumped in with this discussion even though it is not a typical "die ring" variety. And it should be noted that even among typical die ring varieties, it is thought there may be different causes.

Leave no stone unturned is what the great ones one who went before you would say.

Die ring varieties and similar oddballs - any new sightings or possible explanations for these?

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