VOCABULARY TERMS RELATING TO DIE WEAR

Three terms this week which have the same theme – wear in a die. Die erosion is used by collectors more so than mint workers, but, of course, anyone can use any term any time when appropriate. The theme of wear is vitally important to collectors in determining Condition.

Die Erosion. Wearing of a die’s surface until flow marks are entirely eliminated from pieces struck from that die. The term is one of condition used by collectors studying pieces struck from dies rather than by metalworkers using the dies. Flow marks form on the surface of coins struck from a fresh die. Tiny furrows form on the surface, generally from the edge toward the center, caused by minute imperfections on the surface of the die. These furrows reflect light causing MINT LUSTER on freshly struck pieces (also CARTWHEEL reflections when the coin is tilted). With continued striking these imperfections slowly disappear and the die’s surface becomes smooth and bright. Continued use of the die causes very minute rounding of edges of detail and lettering. After long-term use a die may SINK ever so slightly, beginning in the center and cause a very slight dome on struck pieces. The final stage of a die is when stress has caused a DIEBREAK on the surface, usually near the rim. When the piece inevitably breaks away the die is no longer useable.
CLASS 11.5

Worn Die. A die whose sharpness of detail has been dulled by much use. The wear of constant striking rounds off the sharp angles of detail and lettering; in the later stages of DIE LIFE the wear is greatly exhibited and dies deteriorate rapidly, until a point is reached when such dies must be retired. Before this is reached, however, some RE-ENGRAVING may be done to add additional striking ability to prolong die life. Generally worn dies have begun to sink (see SUNKEN DIE), contain one or more areas of stress and are susceptible of DIECRACKS ultimately leading to DIECHIPS and BROKEN DIES. Also WEAK STRIKES occur during SETUP, before the pressure has been correctly established, this results in pieces which look like they were struck from very worn dies (but obviously were not). See also DIE WEAR.
CLASS 04.4

Die Wear. The dulling of detail on a die from constant striking. Wear diminishes the sharpness of detail and is the greatest factor of DIE LIFE – the point at which a die must be retired. Also wear is a factor – along with stress – of DIECRACKS occurring which further hasten the deterioration of a die. In the later stages of a die’s life it will deteriorate rapidly. See also SUNKEN DIE, BROKEN DIE.
CLASS 04.4

Looking for the meaning of a numismatic word, or the description of a term?  Try the Newman Numismatic Portal's Numismatic Dictionary at: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionary

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