Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
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Pepper Park North
Photo by Dale J.
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Dale J. was at Pepper Park yesterday and saw this old cut. He said there was a lot of soft sand.
He also pointed out the holes that he filled.
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Holes Filled by Dale
Photo by Dale J.
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Thanks Dale.
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1984 P Snowing Mint Error.
Can you see a mint error on this dime?
There is one. See if you can find it.
Here is closer look at the error.
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| 1984 P Dime Close Up View. |
Notice the crown bottle cap like design on the coins rim. That is not part of the intended design. It is a minting error referred to as "collar clash."
As you probably know, coins are made using one die to create the obverse impression and another die is used to create the reverse impression. That is the way it has been done since colonial times. The big difference now is that the process is mechanized and the coins are not hand struck.
An anvil die is usually used to make the reverse design, and the punch die is used to make the obverse design. The obverse is the side shown above with Roosevelt on it.
The anvil die is usually on the bottom, and the punch die is struck or forced down on the metal. In Spanish colonial times, that was done by hand with a hammer.
One of the big differences between Spanish colonial cobs and modern coins is that the minting process now involves a third die. The third die is the collar.
The collar is a circular piece of hardened steel which acts as the wall of the coining chamber, which provides the impression for the uniform circular outline around the coin. As its name implies, the collar prevents the striking pressure from spreading onto the flange. Apart from preventing imperfect strikes, the impression on the coin's edge (either as a recess or raised inscription) deters forgery or clipping (an illegal paring of metal from the circumference of the coin). The dies impress the various designs and devices on the obverse and reverse for the coin while the collar forms the edge of the coin. The collar, which is five-thousandths of an inch larger in diameter than the dies, is mounted on springs which allow slight vertical movement...
(Source: https://www.fleur-de-coin.com/articles/coin-striking)
A collar clash represents damage to the rim gutter of the die from contact with the collar. It shows up most clearly in reeded issues, where it takes the form of serrations along the top or the edge of the design rim. In an off-center strike, a collar clash will appear in the form of parallel grooves in the “slide zone”.
Collar clash is far more common on the hammer die. It occurs when a temporarily misaligned hammer die collides with the top of the collar and/or scrapes along its working face...
(Source: http://www.error-ref.com/collar-clash/)
The collar clash is shown on the obverse of the dime above. It would therefore have been created by the hammer die.
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Die Showing Damage Caused by Clashing With the Collar.
Source: See Error-Ref.com above.
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It can be worth picking up pennies and other small denomination coins if you inspect them carefully and learn to identify valuable errors and varieties.
One of the biggest differences you will see between Spanish colonial cobs and modern coins, is the edge. Modern coins have the finished round edge, perhaps with reeding or other designs features, because of the collar.
In addition to the possibility of finding a valuable a mint error or variety, you will also learn things from modern coins that can be applied to your understanding and appreciation of Spanish Colonial coins. There are differences, but there are also many similarities.
It wasn't until rather recently that I began to inspect my coins for mint errors and varieties. I don't know if I ever spent valuable coins. It is certainly possible.
I have found a variety of mint errors. Most have no value or very little value, but one was the first documented example of its kind, and is listed on an online error reference database.
It is not as easy to find a valuable mint error. Valuable examples are rare. And some errors and varieties are difficult to correctly identify. Like anything else it takes study and practice, but the results can be gratifying.
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The surf predictions do not look as encouraging as they did a little earlier. Now it looks like we'll only be getting three to five feet. We are supposed to have a long period of north winds either. Don't expect much improvement in overall beach conditions.
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| Source: MagicSeaWeed.com. |
What is your all-time favorite coin find?
Send me a photo of your favorite and tell why it is your favorite.
Happy hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net
