1992 with Hat Hair?

[lara4228]

Can anyone tell me why he looks like his hair has been flattened? My guess by looking at the coin it is grease but not too sure.
19920001.jpg

On a side note, I never noticed how small the 2's were for this year. Anyone know that answer for that one 2?

[frebrd]

I've often wondered about those small 2's also. In case ya dont know be sure to check those 92's for the close AM. I hear those are pretty hard to come by! Especially the 92D.

[jcuve]

I agree with your hypothesis that it is most likely grease on the die.

[jfines69]

Alot of grease... Looks as if all the devices are affected!!!

[BadThad]

This effect is VERY common on newer Memorial cents. I've seen it many times. I think that's a deeper part of the die, a lot of metal fills the die there and it tends to clog with grease in that area. It could also be due to a slightly weak striking pressure.

For me, as a perfectionist, I seek coins that have full hair and complete steps on the reverse. This effect drives me CRAZY when searching for high grade gems. I've found coins perfect in everyway but have incomplete hair....it's frustrating.

[hasfam]

This effect is VERY common on newer Memorial cents. I've seen it many times. I think that's a deeper part of the die, a lot of metal fills the die there and it tends to clog with grease in that area. It could also be due to a slightly weak striking pressure.

For me, as a perfectionist, I seek coins that have full hair and complete steps on the reverse. This effect drives me CRAZY when searching for high grade gems. I've found coins perfect in everyway but have incomplete hair....it's frustrating.

I never really thought of it in a conscience way, but I'm like Bad in this way. lack of details in the Hair, ears and steps drive me nuts and have to be pristine. And when I run across one I get real excited, which doesn't happen too often. So far, every 2010 cent I've seen in my searches has flat/no hair, every single one.

[dvn]

This effect is VERY common on newer Memorial cents. I've seen it many times. I think that's a deeper part of the die, a lot of metal fills the die there and it tends to clog with grease in that area. It could also be due to a slightly weak striking pressure.

For me, as a perfectionist, I seek coins that have full hair and complete steps on the reverse. This effect drives me CRAZY when searching for high grade gems. I've found coins perfect in everyway but have incomplete hair....it's frustrating.

BadThad makes excellent points.

Sometimes, granted not always, but some of these are a result from the obverse design in relationship with the reverse design coupled with the striking pressure. For example, a lot of times we see STATES OF on the reverse very weak and in some cases just about gone. This is caused by the opposite obverse design, which the opposite of STATES OF is the lower bust area. The bust takes up a lot more of the metal flow while at the same time is taking away the metal flow into the STATES OF area on the reverse.

Since your post is on a 1992 cent, notice that the obverse overall design is different than the next year 1993? The Mint changed the design a little. Compare a 1992 cent and a 1993 cent obverse and you will see that the lettering and design is a little thinner as well as not quite as high in relief on the 1993 cent. This was done to try and facilitate an increase of the metal flow during striking to all the deepest recessed areas of the design.

Billy

[BadThad]

Billy points out an important thing too. It's very useful to have obverse/reverse overlaid images so you can visualize where the weakness is coming from. The most famous case is the O in ONE on the wheat cent reverse. It's often weak because that's opposite the bust area on the obverse which requires a lot of metal to fill the die and it's fairly high in relief. Novice collectors often mistake this for wear or a grease filled die when it is neither.