What causes this feature?

[andywoj00]

What causes this "flatness"? Is it die wear? Circulation wear? PMD? Other devices on the coin seem to have average circulation wear. Thanks....Andy

aw081523k.jpg (232.71 KiB) Viewed 553 times

aw081523e.jpg (234.38 KiB) Viewed 553 times

[johnhenry9009]

If I recall correctly that is caused by a weak strike or a planchet that was hardened for too long which stopped the planchet from fully going into the recesses on the Die. But this is just my two cents if that matters

[rhodes6467]

I would say on this particular example, it is the later of the two, these areas being the high points of the coin and also the most vulnerable, being in the center.

[messydesk]

Woefully insufficient strike.

[rhodes6467]

Woefully insufficient strike.

Do you really think so? There is so much of the other high areas of the coin (low areas of the die), that don't seem affected. You may be correct, JB and you are one of the few people I would question but this looks like a combination of circulation and possible PSD. I did notice the somewhat light strike in the upper tail feathers though.

[messydesk]

I see no sign of circulation in the fields.

[rhodes6467]

There would appear to be much going on in the areas of question though, especially on the obverse, which is why I also included PSD. Looks like it was flattened.


I do see what you mean by the nice fields but it's a very limited view of them though....

[JohnGoldsmith]

I had a 1897 O that looked like this. Unc but the Eagle had no breast feathers, legs flat, obverse weak, etc. I thought it was a worn out die. It reminded me of the 1922 Plain cent, obverse.

[RogerB]

Typically, a coin develops from the center and rim, toward the intermediate areas. A working die develops detail from a hub from center to rim in successive blows. However, if the die end was not sufficiently convex, the center of a die would not fill correctly.

The photos suggest a combination of hard planchet and unusually low pressure...but, full coin photos would be helpful.

[andywoj00]

The photos suggest a combination of hard planchet and unusually low pressure...but, full coin photos would be helpful.

Links to LFCP's. Appreciate the info thus far.....Andy

http://www.silverdye.us/wiki/pub/Main/A ... 1692455975
http://www.silverdye.us/wiki/pub/Main/A ... 1692455975

[RogerB]

The full photos plus documentation on poorly struck coins and failed dies at New Orleans for 1899 and previous years support a combination of insufficient planchet softening, and low strike pressure. The letter below is an admission of significant problems in the coining department.

19000109 NO Abuse of dies_Page_1.jpg (254.38 KiB) Viewed 440 times

[Albannach]

Hmmm...It resembles grease fill, but planchet issue makes sense to me, along with Roger's addition.
I don't want to highjack this thread, this goes to the Interesting letter posted.
Here is a recently sold eBay item number:195843923893.
ANACS certified "belly button", note the mint...

so called belly button.jpg (168.73 KiB) Viewed 429 times

[RogerB]

New Orleans' quality problems were long standing and the solutions identified in 1900 would have worked at any time. As it happened, they did not get the improved annealing equipment in 1900 and soon reverted to old habits in order to meet production quotas.

[rhodes6467]

Been out of town and believe it or not, somewhere that has no cell service or WIFI. Thank you johnhenry9009 and everyone else!