Liberty 196?

[brandm24]

Thanks, I appreciate that.

Bruce

[brandm24]

I was curious about the cause of the weak strike on the rims of the coin so I reached out to some error collectors.

I was told that it's a good example of a strike-thru error...when a foreign substance (grease, wire, cloth, etc.) somehow gets between the die and the coin blank. The strike them is unclear or weak in spots.

This example is struck through grease that accumulated on the die during the minting process. The accumulation builds up as the mint run progresses and in time will harden in the recesses of the die thus causing this type of error. Technically, it's considered a die state or form of die deterioration.

Here's another example that looks very much like "our" coin.

Bruce

[Figleaf]

And I thought a strike-through error was using armour-piercing ammunition on a sail-cloth truck and die state was another nickname for Florida

Joking aside, yes, this is an early stage of what is known as a filled die error. The oil or cleaning fluid is pushed to the side by the striking process. As a press has many moving parts, the oil will mix with tiny pieces of metal and dirt that will collect in the incuse parts along the edge. In the smallest of them, often the date, the mix will be compacted in those recesses by the striking process, filling them up gradually. The result is dots, small letters or numbers or designer signatures that "disappear", though on detail pictures, they can still be seen as what is known as a shadow or a ghost.

Peter

[brandm24]

"Armor-piercing" errors are as serious as an ingrown toenail and much worse than a strike-through. But...strike-throughs are pretty dramatic in their own right.

I recently saw an image of a cent struck through a piece of cloth or maybe a rag probably used to clean a die. If I can find the picture I'll post it. The finished product was quite artistic.

Bruce

[brandm24]

I found the picture of the coin I mentioned. It's a pretty dramatic strike-through.

Bruce