Error Other | Spiked shield, gouge or just file lines?

[makecents]

I found an unusual reverse. I've seen polish lines around the shield before but these almost look like gouges. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks, Jon.

[mustbebob]

Those are indeed gouges. I have seen others with gouges both in and around the shield. This one is pretty nice though.

[makecents]

Those are indeed gouges. I have seen others with gouges both in and around the shield. This one is pretty nice though.

Thank you sir! I thought it looked a little different than anything I had ran across so far. Fairly common though?

[Roller]

I believe that it is the "wicked feeder finger" WFF at work.

[makecents]

I believe that it is the "wicked feeder finger" WFF at work.

I would have to agree with that on the North East but not on the North West. I'm familiar with Feed Fingers and that did not cross my mind. Thank you!

[Petespockets55]

Aren't both sides incuse (raised)? Wouldn't feeder fingers created a gouge or scrape on the surface of the coin?

EDIT- Thanks Jon for pointing out the definition in our glossary explaining the feeder fingers can affect the die. I thought they only affected the coin surface.
I like learning.

[makecents]

Aren't both sides incuse (raised)? Wouldn't feeder fingers created a gouge or scrape on the surface of the coin?

Cliff, I actually misspoke on the second gouge, it's running southwest and this one I do not think is feeder fingers. I'm not as versed in dies as most on here but I wouldn't think that this particular kind of damage would create the deep tubular looking gouge I'm speaking of. It's also running in a non typical direction for feeder fingers. I would like to hear more from you experts on this though.

[makecents]

I believe that it is the "wicked feeder finger" WFF at work.

I just realized that you and your pics are part of the glossary definition. Nice!! I'm a little slow that way sometimes...

[VAB2013]

Aren't both sides incuse (raised)? Wouldn't feeder fingers created a gouge or scrape on the surface of the coin?

EDIT- Thanks Jon for pointing out the definition in our glossary explaining the feeder fingers can affect the die. I thought they only affected the coin surface.
I like learning.

All of the feeder finger scrapes I have seen were raised on the coin, so the die was scraped. I'm guessing these feeder fingers place the blank on the die and remove them? Somebody lend us a helping hand here

[mustbebob]

Feeder finger damage is raised on the coin (incuse on the die). I do not know the orientation of the die and if in fact it would cause NE-SW gouges. On Memorial cents, the feeder finger gouges were all NW-SE. I just do not know on Shield cents. My gut tells me these are not feeder finger gouges but I can not be certain.

[VAB2013]

Feeder finger damage is raised on the coin (incuse on the die). I do not know the orientation of the die and if in fact it would cause NE-SW gouges. On Memorial cents, the feeder finger gouges were all NW-SE. I just do not know on Shield cents. My gut tells me these are not feeder finger gouges but I can not be certain.

Thank you very much Bob! I have read Will's study on Trail Dies over and over. I can certainly see how Will's theory is possible and agree with his findings. My thoughts are, in the past the Mint was not very particular with how they polished and cleaned the dies, using 1980 decade as a good example. On the Shield cents we are not really seeing that same dramatic effect so perhaps the techniques have changed. This is especially evident on the reverses of Shield cents at EPU where we see large trail lines, or basically damage to the die from a polishing tool. On the OP's coin...perhaps the polishing tool gouged into the die on the left side and the mint worker over corrected and it gouged the right side since the gouges seem to be in the same general direction. I have done something similar buffing a car with an electric buffer LOL

[Frank]

Yep, I see these all the time on Shields as well, but not usually this pronounced!

They're usually extremely lustrous too, making me think fresh attrition on the die (?).

Kind of look like cartoon "speed lines" when there's a lot on one side as well. Flying Shield variety?

[jfines69]

I have found similar ones... Some with less than what yours is and others with much more... They look like some one was training on the wire wheel

[onecent1909]

I believe that it is the "wicked feeder finger" WFF at work.

I do not think so.

On Memorial cents, the feeder finger gouges were all NW-SE. I just do not know on Shield cents. My gut tells me these are not feeder finger gouges but I can not be certain.

You are correct.

I just returned from the Denver mint.
and went to Philly last year.
Philadelphia and Denver use Schuler presses.
These presses are vertically feed with no feeder fingers involved at all
Schuler presses were started in what year?
I want to say 1997 but I am not sure
if so No P or D coins after 1996 could have feeder finger damage to the die, that could transfer to the coin.
I am not sure on the 1999 SBA coins.
I know those dies were doubled hubbed not single squeezed
but I do not know about the coins being made on Schuler presses or not.

But I know all Shield cents are done on Schuler presses.

[VAB2013]

Thank you John! This is very good information to know! What are 1999 SBA coins?