Another poor quality control issue (from 1870)?

[Booky586]

There's plenty of topics listed on the forum with issues about dings, scratches and marks on proof and bullion coins coming out of the mint. I'm sure they'll be a few more with the latest sovereign issue today.

Here's an old one from the Belgian Mint, Leopold II, 20 Francs, 1870. First impressions are it's scratched on the obverse around the ear, sideburns and cheek. On closer inspection though it looks like the scratches could be on the die rather than the coin.

What do you think?

Has someone spilt trappiest ale on the die and quickly scrubbed it up? 😁

 

[LawrenceChard]

49 minutes ago, Booky586 said:

There's plenty of topics listed on the forum with issues about dings, scratches and marks on proof and bullion coins coming out of the mint. I'm sure they'll be a few more with the latest sovereign issue today.

Here's an old one from the Belgian Mint, Leopold II, 20 Francs, 1870. First impressions are it's scratched on the obverse around the ear, sideburns and cheek. On closer inspection though it looks like the scratches could be on the die rather than the coin.

What do you think?

Has someone spilt trappiest ale on the die and quickly scrubbed it up? 😁

 

I was going to say you can't blame the Royal Mint for that one, followed by...

You might need to see a few other examples of the same coin to check, but then...

I noticed the raised pimples on your close-up. This is often seen on fakes. You coin could be OK, but worth further checking,  perhaps starting with an XRF test.

😎

[Booky586]

Thanks @LawrenceChard. Unfortunately I don't have an XRF tester so it will have to go on the "wants list" for now.

Optimistically assuming it is genuine, what else do you think could have caused the pimples?

[CollectForFun]

Do I understand correctly that those lines on the cheek are in fact raised above the surface?

Nice photos by the way!

[LawrenceChard]

26 minutes ago, Booky586 said:

Thanks @LawrenceChard. Unfortunately I don't have an XRF tester so it will have to go on the "wants list" for now.

Optimistically assuming it is genuine, what else do you think could have caused the pimples?

Rusty dies, which would be unusual on most official issues.

😎

[Booky586]

28 minutes ago, CollectForFun said:

Do I understand correctly that those lines on the cheek are in fact raised above the surface?

Nice photos by the way!

Yes, the scratches are raised above the normal surface. It's as though the scratches were made in the die.

[SidS]

On 15/11/2022 at 10:42, LawrenceChard said:

I noticed the raised pimples on your close-up.

😎

Acne.

[LawrenceChard]

2 hours ago, SidS said:

Acne.

A.C.N.E.?

I wanted to respond

A

Coin 

Needing

E...

But could not think of a relevan "E" word.

I tried an acronym search, and got:

The name. Up until 1996, the word "acne" wasn't very fashion. Since Acne – which actually stands for Ambition to Create Novel Expressions – began, though, the label otherwise known as a common skin disorder has become distinctly hip.25 Jun 2013 (The Guardian),

and...

Acronym	Definition
ACNE	Ambition to Create Novel Expression (fashion brand)
ACNE	Acorn Club North East (UK)
ACNE	American Collage Network for Educators
ACNE	Alaskans Concerned for Neglected Environments

Otherwise, your answer was "spot on"!

😎

[SidS]

3 hours ago, LawrenceChard said:

A.C.N.E.?

I wanted to respond

A

Coin 

Needing

E...

But could not think of a relevan "E" word.

I tried an acronym search, and got:

The name. Up until 1996, the word "acne" wasn't very fashion. Since Acne – which actually stands for Ambition to Create Novel Expressions – began, though, the label otherwise known as a common skin disorder has become distinctly hip.25 Jun 2013 (The Guardian),

and...

Acronym	Definition
ACNE	Ambition to Create Novel Expression (fashion brand)
ACNE	Acorn Club North East (UK)
ACNE	American Collage Network for Educators
ACNE	Alaskans Concerned for Neglected Environments

Otherwise, your answer was "spot on"!

😎

I worry about you... 😁

[Booky586]

4 hours ago, LawrenceChard said:

A

Coin 

Needing

E...

Exfoliating? 😀

[LawrenceChard]

3 hours ago, SidS said:

I worry about you... 😁

It's good to know...

So do I!

😎