Are these all Flow lines ( 1942 Proof Mercury ) ....

[jgrinz]

Or does my new dime have issues

 

[realone]

Would be able to provide a close up?

[MunkyMan95]

I'm leaning toward metal flow...

[RWB]

Yep. Over used proof dies.

[physics-fan3.14]

Roger has it right.

[michael]

starburst affect from well overused proof dies

[prudden]

Starting another Proof set already?

[James_OldeTowne]

Michael is correct - delightful starburst effect. I absolutely love this look on small proof silver coins.

[jgrinz]

Starting another Proof set already?

 

Yes - The coins have not arrived as of yet and I am doing some research into some of the finer points of earlier proof coins. This is the first set in the break from 1950 (going backward) which I have started. As I proceed with these older years I will undoubtedly get MORE particular of the coins I keep and eventually get multiholdered.

 

The Coin - There are dark spots on the coin in the picture which I hope are just the reflective surface on the coin. The in hand willhave the final say

[TomB]

As minted.

[BillJones]

I'm going to disagree here and say that they marks left after the coin was dipped. Dipping does no restore metal; it removes metal. What you see here are the marks left after the small amout of tarish was removed.

 

To put it another way, I've never seen these kinds of marks on a never dipped, original Proof Mercury dime, Washington quarter or Walking Liberty half dollar.

[coinman1794]

Or does my new dime have issues

 

 

These marks are from die stress due to over-use. These patterns are typical on Prooflike Mercury dimes and Washington Quarters, as well. As seen hear:

 

http://www.dmrarecoins.com/servlet/the-457/1947-dsh-S-NGC-MS66PL-25C/Detail

 

http://www.dmrarecoins.com/servlet/the-695/1947-dsh-S-NGC-MS67PL-25C/Detail

 

http://www.dmrarecoins.com/servlet/the-733/1940-dsh-D-NGC-MS67*-%28STAR%29/Detail

 

http://www.dmrarecoins.com/servlet/the-724/1942-dsh-S-NGC-MS65*-%28STAR%29/Detail