CORDURY Reverse Proof? Odd that it passed QC

ABSilvercoins · February 3, 2007 12:39PM

CORDUROY Field on Rev. Proof

(Corduroy is that thickly ribbed cotton material that geeks have jackets and hats made from.)

I was lucky enough to get, directly from the US Mint, (in December) a 20th Ann. Silver Eagle 3-coin set.

I was surprised to see the field on the rev. proof coin. The OBVERSE field has tiny, perfectly straight, parallel lines cut into it.

At first clance, it looks like someone wiped the coin with a dirty rag, but on closer exam, it it obvious the lines were STRUCK into the field. The lines run right up to the devices and stop, and resume on the other side of the device.

The entire field is affected, and the devices are a perfect mirror finish -- without any trace of these lines.

Have I got the world's only cordoroy rev. proof?

See pictures, please! My Personal Web Page

Advice and theories welcome. Also, since it is obviously a mint error, should I get it slabbed?

Thanks.

MrSpud · February 3, 2007 12:40PM

Lots of them have those parallel striations. Here's mine.

RichieURich · February 3, 2007 12:46PM

to the Forum, ABSilvercoins! Enjoy!

Agreed, I think a lot of the reverse proofs look that way.

ABSilvercoins · February 3, 2007 12:49PM

So we have coins that PCGS would refuse to grade, maybe worth melt value? Or might there be some value added? I'll happily dump the set on eBay... but the buyer might be po'd when he gets them.

MrSpud · February 3, 2007 12:53PM

I don't think that the striations would keep PCGS from slabbing them, although I heard a rumor that if they are too heavy that they might downgrade it a point or 2. Not sure if it is true. I think most of the reverse proofs have these striations in the field. I think it has something to do with how the planchets were prepared.

ABSilvercoins · February 3, 2007 1:01PM

The reverse of the coin has no such problem. I guess the ones with the striations were set asideas rejects, and then they decided, 'What the Hell, we have 20,000 unfilled orders, SHIP-EM'.

I threw my shoulder out of joint, patting myself on the back, for getting a set directly from the mint in December, MONTHS after they sold out. It's like getting a bag of switches from Santa. <G>

It is a lot like the "adjustment marks" on the old half dollars.

commoncents05 · February 3, 2007 2:21PM

PCGS will still slab these, though if you want to sell them at melt, make sure to PM me right away.

-Paul

ABSilvercoins · February 3, 2007 2:49PM

I just did a quick survey on eBay.

When the picture is good enough, you can see at least half of the reverse proofs have the striations. [Including the slabbed coins.]

Bodie · February 3, 2007 2:56PM

I was wondering about the surface too. My first group received months ago were fine, no lines. The second group received a couple of weeks ago all have the lines. Could be Mint rejects.

Have any with the lines graded 69 or 70 by PCGS?...thanks!

ABSilvercoins · February 3, 2007 3:25PM

There were several 69's with very obvious lines. I did not see any 70's.

ABSilvercoins · February 3, 2007 3:28PM

The more I read here, the more my previous theory seems likely:

I guess the ones with the striations were set aside as rejects, and then they decided, 'What the Hell, we have 20,000 unfilled orders, SHIP-EM'.

Bodie · February 3, 2007 3:32PM

I agree, I think they are rejects. They could be slabbed..."MS Reject 69". Hell, we had the First Strike BS!!

MrSpud · February 3, 2007 11:24PM

Mine was one of the early ones that was shipped and it has the striations. Maybe some with heavy striations might be considered to be rejects, but I think that even the first ones sent out have them to a greater or lesser extent.

stev32k · February 3, 2007 11:29PM

I was one of the very first to receive the three coin 20th Ann. set and all the reverse proofs had those striations. In addition all of them had milk spots and/or pitting. I returned all ten sets. I opened one box of five sets and the RPs looked a lot better, but no 70s. The other box of five is in my safe deposit box and will stay there for awhile.

edit: Here's a link to some pictures of the ones sent back link

TorinoCobra71 · February 3, 2007 11:36PM

<< <i>Lots of them have those parallel striations. Here's mine.

>>

My PCGS PR70 Reverse Proof has the same striations in the field.....

TorinoCobra71

airplanenut · February 3, 2007 11:45PM

Probably just die polish lines, and those are not going to keep a coin out of a holder. Not a mint error, just par for the course.

ABSilvercoins · February 4, 2007 2:42AM

I just got out all of my 20th Ann. Sets and sure enough, they ALL have the striations on the OBVERSE. The REVERSE has the lines too, but it is difficult to see. It takes medium magnification and just the right light.

Oddly enough, I feel better now. Misery loves company.

IrishMike · February 4, 2007 3:07AM

Where I come from we call them there things "furrows". (aka as die polish lines)

We can't use that term due to the large Polish contingent that settled in South Bend.

fastrudy · February 4, 2007 3:09AM

Maybe you can sell it to geeks. It will match their jackets and hats

CarlWohlforth · February 4, 2007 3:30AM

I sold one recently. It was in a 20'th Anniversary PCGS holder PR 69. I did a quick, informal, query and a bit fewer than half the replies said they had at least one like that. It is as minted so didn't hurt the grade.

ricko · February 4, 2007 3:30AM

What bothers me more, is the cross hatching (intentional part of design) behind the stars on the flag. I just do not like it.. small issue, but would have preferred a smooth field. Cheers, RickO

CORDURY Reverse Proof? Odd that it passed QC

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