Newbie Question - Strange Marks on Coins 0

[Seamus8]

I am totally new. I have attached 3 photos taken of quarters which all exhibit the same type of indentation mark on the obverse side of the coin. I see indentation marks on about 1/2 the coins I look at.

Can anyone tell me what causes these marks or what these marks are called?

[GoldFinger1969]

It could be roller marks as the coins come off the press, but those look more like regular bag marks.

I'll defer to someone more familiar with markings on modern quarters (I assume the coinage is recent).

[Lem E]

They are just hits most likely from the reeding of another coin hitting it when they were being ejected from the presses and falling into the bins. Could also be some type of post mint damage (PMD). 

[Coinbuf]

Welcome to the forum, those marks happen when the reeded edge of another coin (likely another quarter) bangs into this quarter and damages it.

Edited to add:  These are called, appropriately, reeding marks. 

Edited December 2, 2022 by Coinbuf

[GoldFinger1969]

On 12/2/2022 at 6:44 PM, Coinbuf said:

Welcome to the forum, those marks happen when the reeded edge of another coin (likely another quarter) bangs into this quarter and damages it. Edited to add:  These are called, appropriately, reeding marks. 

Isn't the metal for quarters (what is it, BTW ?) pretty hard compared to gold or silver?   I'm surprised another quarter could leave those "reeding marks" -- they look pretty deep, CB.

[Sandon]

On 12/2/2022 at 7:40 PM, GoldFinger1969 said:

Isn't the metal for quarters (what is it, BTW ?) pretty hard compared to gold or silver?   I'm surprised another quarter could leave those "reeding marks" -- they look pretty deep, CB.

   The outer layers of clad quarters are 75% copper, 25% nickel, which isn't anywhere near as hard as pure nickel. The core is pure copper.  Remember that nowadays coins are packed into huge polyethylene bags containing many thousands of coins, which may then be stacked on top of each other.  Remember as well that the reeded edges on uncirculated coins are rather sharp. When the edge of one such coin lies against the face of another under all that weight, it's quite possible for such damage to occur. The displacement of metal around the reeding marks indicates that it's damage, not something that occurred during the minting process.

[The Neophyte Numismatist]

Agree with above - damage from reeded edges hitting the face of the coin.

[JKK]

It should be noted that bag marks, reeding marks--these are not wear or circulation. A coin can be uncirculated and have them. A mint state coin is graded partly by the quantity, location, and seriousness of contact marks.

[Hoghead515]

I agree with all the others. Reeded edges of the other coins they are bagged up with. 

[JKK]

On 12/2/2022 at 4:40 PM, GoldFinger1969 said:

Isn't the metal for quarters (what is it, BTW ?) pretty hard compared to gold or silver?   I'm surprised another quarter could leave those "reeding marks" -- they look pretty deep, CB.

Think of the weight of many other quarters on top of them. It's Cu/Ni--tough but not that tough.

[ldhair]

Coin sorting machines can also create marks such as this. The coins come out at pretty high speeds. 

[VKurtB]

On 12/4/2022 at 8:34 AM, ldhair said:

Coin sorting machines can also create marks such as this. The coins come out at pretty high speeds. 

Ptooey!