1992 D spider web a day late

[makecents]

You know Jon, shortly after you found this coin, I found one with dried glue that had almost an exact square/circular type pattern on it where the glue had cracked in places but it didn't have the lines extending from it like yours. Since you soaked your coin for days, that ruled out glue. How nice of Mike to inspect this coin for you. Funny how coin searching can turn into a forensic science of sorts!

Well, we gave it a try. In a way I kind of like not knowing for sure what it is. Hopefully Mike will get his hands on John's shortly, I'm curious!

[jfines69]

Thanks for the update Mike... We appreciate all the help you give us... Very interesting how the plating was damaged but not due to a strike thru... This is one for the ghost stories

[Petespockets55]

Still needs an acetone bath but cleaned it up a little. Here are some updated pics and I'll try again after a couple of days of soaking.

I went back looking at these images (Post #30 by Jon) after reading Mike's reply.

Is it my imagination but in image #2, does there appear to be a thin "channel" running down the middle of the wider lines towards the middle of the image?

I could very easily be out in "Pluto" range left field but to me this seems to indicate something on/in the zinc base that may have deteriorated or contracted and "pulled" the copper plating with it as it cooled/shrunk.

I would think that any anomaly on the face of the zinc core at the time of the plating would be filled by the plating process. Whereas if the zinc deteriorated after the plating was completed (cooling = shrinking) might accentuate subsurface anomalies.

This mystery may be one for Batman- a real Puzzler???

[jfines69]

I went back looking at these images (Post #30 by Jon) after reading Mike's reply.

Is it my imagination but in image #2, does there appear to be a thin "channel" running down the middle of the wider lines towards the middle of the image?

I could very easily be out in "Pluto" range left field but to me this seems to indicate something on/in the zinc base that may have deteriorated or contracted and "pulled" the copper plating with it as it cooled/shrunk.

I would think that any anomaly on the face of the zinc core at the time of the plating would be filled by the plating process. Whereas if the zinc deteriorated after the plating was completed (cooling = shrinking) might accentuate subsurface anomalies.

This mystery may be one for Batman- a real Puzzler???

Some of the lines look like scratches so that may explain the channels... I don't think you are on Pluto but Mars has canals that look similar so we may both be there

[Petespockets55]

Some of the lines look like scratches so that may explain the channels... I don't think you are on Pluto but Mars has canals that look similar so we may both be there

As long as we have our Lincolns and a scope.

[mikediamond]

I have Stoneman227's 1989 cent. My examination under a microscope indicates that the fine lines are indeed cracks in the copper plating. I have never encountered this pattern of cracking before. In every other case I've seen, the cracks are few in number and widely separated. This coin does show areas of post-strike damage on both faces, but I see no evidence that these are related to the cracking. There are two circular/subcircular elevations on Lincoln's coat; I suspect these also represent post-strike damage. I think I will use this coin for a column on cracked and peeling plating. Okay if I use your photos, John? They're excellent. -- Mike

[Petespockets55]

I have Stoneman227's 1989 cent. My examination under a microscope indicates that the fine lines are indeed cracks in the copper plating. .............. Mike

So the fine lines are incuse into the surface?

[makecents]

I have Stoneman227's 1989 cent. My examination under a microscope indicates that the fine lines are indeed cracks in the copper plating. I have never encountered this pattern of cracking before. In every other case I've seen, the cracks are few in number and widely separated. This coin does show areas of post-strike damage on both faces, but I see no evidence that these are related to the cracking. There are two circular/subcircular elevations on Lincoln's coat; I suspect these also represent post-strike damage. I think I will use this coin for a column on cracked and peeling plating. Okay if I use your photos, John? They're excellent. -- Mike

Thanks once again for the quick response Mike!! That is an extremely cool looking coin, congrats John!! As Mike said, those pics are fantastic too!

[mikediamond]

The fine lines are incuse, with the wider ones extending all the way through the plating. The edges are quite sharp, as one would expect of plating cracks.

[stoneman227]

Many many thanks Mike !
I just emailed you the original files.

John

[VAB2013]

Many many thanks Mike !
I just emailed you the original files.

John

Congrats John! and thank you very much Mike for including John's coin in an upcoming article! How exciting John! This will be a great article for an awesome, very unusual find! Way to go!!!

[Petespockets55]

The fine lines are incuse, with the wider ones extending all the way through the plating. The edges are quite sharp, as one would expect of plating cracks.

Is there any chance temperature of the metal while being struck or being plated could play a role?

[jfines69]

As long as we have our Lincolns and a scope.

Don't forget the solar panel... No lectricity up there

[jfines69]

That is cool... Congrats stoneman and thanks Mike!!!

[mikediamond]

John's 1989 cent currently appears in the latest edition of Coin World. Unfortunately, the reproduced image is too small to properly show the array of fine cracks. Image size is up to the editor -- I have no input.