Die polish or whizzed????

toyz4geo · December 14, 2011 10:45AM

Hi all,

I just purchased (off the 'Bay) what seemed to be (and very well may be) a nice PL 1942-S full step Jefferson. I purchased it with the intent of submitting it (along with others) to PCGS for grading. When I received the coin, I noted that the surface had a lot of fine lines, not so much on the devices, but in the fields. The coin in hand does seem to look proof like, but the fine lines makes me hesitate tossing it into a flip and sending it off to PCGS for fear of a Genuine holder. I took a few pics and thought those in the know might be able to shed some light on the subject for me. Do the PL surfaces arise from the die being polished, or has the coin been cleaned in such a way as to leave a very shiny surface and the accompanying fine lines?

I have included a picture of the reverse of a 1941-S MS67FB Merc that I have that has some of the same type of lines on both sides and appears PL in hand as well.

Thanks in advance for any and all imput.
George

Goldbully · December 14, 2011 10:51AM

Sure looks whizzed to me!!!!

LanceNewmanOCC · December 14, 2011 10:57AM

.
gotta tell you the handwriting on the war nickel scared to holy crap outta me as it is nearly identical to mine !

i don't write gem bu on my coin flips so that was the give away

but on-topic, the war nick sure looks like whizzed to me but tough to tell from images

the merc looks to have PLS as well, but again hard to tell from the images
.

stealer · December 14, 2011 11:02AM

I always though whizzed coins had a circular pattern to the hairlines?

relicsncoins · December 14, 2011 11:10AM

It looks as though the lines stop at the devices. That wouldn't be the case if it were whizzed, the lines would extend up onto the devices.

19Lyds · December 14, 2011 11:12AM

Looks like it's been erasered to me. It also doesn't look like full steps either.

GoldClause · December 14, 2011 11:32AM

<< Looks like it's been erasered to me. It also doesn't look like full steps either. >>

First thing I thought too, eraser.

JRocco · December 14, 2011 11:42AM

<< Looks like it's been erasered to me. It also doesn't look like full steps either. >>

I concur on both points.

GrumpyEd · December 14, 2011 11:44AM

Look at some other angles to the light to verify if the lines cross the devices or not.

Whizzing can be circular or directional. Depends if they had it rotating centered on the coin or held the coin to the side of a rotating polishing tool.
Coin erasers do about the same thing, lines would probably be directional.

toyz4geo · December 14, 2011 11:45AM

Here are a couple more pics.

The lines on the reverse are only above Montecello, none below. The lines appear to run, unbroken under the lettering, e pluribus unum, but not over or on top of the letters themselves. It seems an eraser would not be able to get that close to the letters.

The steps seem as full on my other PCGS MS66FS war nickels, and maybe a bit better than a couple of them.

Again, thanks for the imput. I have 7 days for a return and wanted to get eyes better than mine for an opinion.
George

stealer · December 14, 2011 11:53AM

I do believe it's eraser work. I've erasered a few bullion silver dimes that I got from circulation for fun and erasers do a pretty good job of cleaning around letters and inside the letters as well.

relicsncoins · December 14, 2011 11:59AM

The new photos make the lines look raised to me. The light is from the left and reflects off of the devices on the same side as the lines.

coinman23885 · December 14, 2011 12:01PM

Are the lines raised or indented? If raised, then likely die polish lines. If not raised, then likely whizzing, or as others have pointed out, the marks could also be interpreted as marks from a pencil eraser.

kaz · December 14, 2011 12:03PM

I vote for die polish.

jdimmick · December 14, 2011 12:10PM

They look like die polish lines as they appear raised.

nwcoast · December 14, 2011 2:19PM

<< Looks like it's been erasered to me. It also doesn't look like full steps either. >>

Lehigh96 · December 14, 2011 5:59PM

Can someone explain to me how a coin would have prooflike surfaces after being whizzed. I don't think that is possible. Furthermore, why would someone waste their time whizzing a common date war nickel?

BTW, does your coin look at all like this?

1942-S Jefferson Nickel NGC MS66*

NGC will often give a star designation for coins that are prooflike on just one side. The coin in that photo clearly has die polish lines.

Walkerguy21D · December 14, 2011 9:43PM

Standard abrasive cleaning causing hairlines, like from a jeweler's cloth or abrasive silver polish being used - not whizzed or die polish (at least not the heavy stuff you are showing).

golfer72 · December 14, 2011 10:14PM

thats die polish. It will grade

Manorcourtman · December 14, 2011 10:26PM

Even if it grades the chatter on the face keeps it to 64 imho. Is it worth grading even in 65?

hammered54 · December 14, 2011 10:46PM

looks to have a die crack down through the U into the S and down into the dome and some.

emzee · December 14, 2011 10:49PM

Without even looking closely at pics, I vote for die polish. Heavy die polish (and PL or semi-PL surfaces) is not uncommon on S-mint war 5c and is also seen on S-mint Mercs of this era.

Michael

ModCrewman · December 14, 2011 11:31PM

<<

>>

This photo clinches it as Die polish for me.

fastfreddie · December 15, 2011 12:02AM

<< 

<< Looks like it's been erasered to me. It also doesn't look like full steps either. >>

First thing I thought too, eraser. >>

+1

Die polish or whizzed????

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