Washington Quarter question/roll chatter
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Posts: 761
Hi, I was wondering what the light scuff is in the right field of this Washington Quarter. It follows the line of the rim. It's very light, not like a scratch but more like a scuff. Is this roll friction or chatter? I thought that would occur on the high points of the coin, not the fields. Also, what impact would this have on a coin's grading? The coin is in an old MS64 holder and other than that aspect and a mark on the cheekbone area, the coin is clean with great luster and strike and is very comparable to other MS65's I have owned. Thanks in advance.
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Comments
This is the most lightly stuck area on a Washington though you can see this around
the periphery of most designs. The edge of the coin is pushed up in the upsetting
mill which reduces the diameter of the type 1 planchet while adding extra metal for
the rim of the struck coin. There is a tendency for metal to flow in near the periphery
from this raised edge and be balanced by the metal flowing out from the central fields.
This effect is especially pronounced on most of the early clads even in the mint sets.
These planchet defects will be observed in other areas as well such as the tops of
high points in the design which often are more lightly struck.
PCGS used to be pretty forgiving of this when it was around the periphery but pro-
bably are less so now days. Many collectors, especially myself, find them most un-
sightly even if they are "as struck".
<< <i>It's planchet marking.
This is the most lightly stuck area on a Washington though you can see this around
the periphery of most designs. The edge of the coin is pushed up in the upsetting
mill which reduces the diameter of the type 1 planchet while adding extra metal for
the rim of the struck coin. There is a tendency for metal to flow in near the periphery
from this raised edge and be balanced by the metal flowing out from the central fields.
This effect is especially pronounced on most of the early clads even in the mint sets.
These planchet defects will be observed in other areas as well such as the tops of
high points in the design which often are more lightly struck.
PCGS used to be pretty forgiving of this when it was around the periphery but pro-
bably are less so now days. Many collectors, especially myself, find them most un-
sightly even if they are "as struck". >>
Is this what causes the copper clading skin on Memorial Lincoln Cents to break around the
perimeter letters on occasion, exposing the grey metal underneath?
R.I.P. Bear
<< <i>
Is this what causes the copper clading skin on Memorial Lincoln Cents to break around the
perimeter letters on occasion, exposing the grey metal underneath? >>
I think this is a little different.
The letters can be at nearly 90 degrees relative to the surface and have a very sharp edges
at the base. It might be shearing or possibly the copper acts more brittle at the very high
speeds of the cent presses now days. I suspect it's just simple shearing. This is especially
noticeable on the mint set 88-D and '89-D cents on the inside of the reverse lettering. A lot
of nice gems won't survive long because of this. It seems to be an especially acute problem
on gems which does suggest shearing of the copper plate.