I see this on PCGS slabs (early dollars & half dollars, mostly) but I'm not sure what they are, or where. Do they mean adjustments as made by mint employees, or from coin enhancements some time later?
Tried search engine but didn't come up with much.
What are "Tool Marks"?
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What are "Tool Marks"?
by Morsecode » Sat Dec 25, 2021 6:25 pm
From hence ye beauties undeceived, know one false step is ne'er retrieved
and be with caution bold.
Not all that tempts your wandering eyes and heedless hearts is lawful prize,
nor all that glistens gold.
- Thomas Gray, 1747
and be with caution bold.
Not all that tempts your wandering eyes and heedless hearts is lawful prize,
nor all that glistens gold.
- Thomas Gray, 1747
-
Morsecode - Too Busy Posting to Hoard Anything Else
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Re: What are "Tool Marks"?
by coppernickel » Sat Dec 25, 2021 9:49 pm
In the early days, when gold and silver were money, blanks were made a little over weight then filed to be the correct weight.
The mint employees did file the blanks before the coins were struck. It leaves a very distinct "tool mark" on the finished coins.
It is a different mark than being filed after minting.
The mint employees did file the blanks before the coins were struck. It leaves a very distinct "tool mark" on the finished coins.
It is a different mark than being filed after minting.
Silver Monometalism is the most permanent and stable form of money the world has seen. Natural law and history prove silver value is best multiplied by gold and best divided by copper. It is only in this counterfeit currency time when the natural law appears suspended.
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coppernickel - 1000+ Penny Miser Member
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Re: What are "Tool Marks"?
by Morsecode » Sun Dec 26, 2021 11:14 am
So I asume that meant filing the edge of a coin, rather than gouging out from the fields.
I guess I was confused because the way PCGS put it on the slab it made it sound like something undesireable about the coin that impacted it's value, like "Improperly Cleaned", which I see a lot. Tooling is a neat bit of history...why wouldn't you want it?
I guess I was confused because the way PCGS put it on the slab it made it sound like something undesireable about the coin that impacted it's value, like "Improperly Cleaned", which I see a lot. Tooling is a neat bit of history...why wouldn't you want it?
From hence ye beauties undeceived, know one false step is ne'er retrieved
and be with caution bold.
Not all that tempts your wandering eyes and heedless hearts is lawful prize,
nor all that glistens gold.
- Thomas Gray, 1747
and be with caution bold.
Not all that tempts your wandering eyes and heedless hearts is lawful prize,
nor all that glistens gold.
- Thomas Gray, 1747
-
Morsecode - Too Busy Posting to Hoard Anything Else
- Posts: 4244
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 10:04 pm
- Location: Southern New England
Re: What are "Tool Marks"?
by coppernickel » Tue Dec 28, 2021 12:07 am
From the Redbook explanation, across the face would not surprise me. This would be before the striking. I have never seen any of them.
Silver Monometalism is the most permanent and stable form of money the world has seen. Natural law and history prove silver value is best multiplied by gold and best divided by copper. It is only in this counterfeit currency time when the natural law appears suspended.
-
coppernickel - 1000+ Penny Miser Member
- Posts: 1094
- Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 10:00 am
- Location: American Redoubt
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