Help! 2010 Silver Proof Quarters with Grooves in the Reeding

[19Lyds]

Can anybody think of what would have caused this?





This occurs on 12 out of 15 of the ATB Quarters in the 3 Silver Proof Sets I received on Thursday.

To me, it looks PMD and would technically render the coin "ungradeable".

I don't know if this also existed on the 2009 Silver Quarters since the 2009 Packaging did not display the edges whereas 2010 does.

[diamond]

My guess would be post-strike damage of some kind. However, Arnie Margolis contends that these ridges are present on the planchet and are generated by a worn groove in the upset mill. I'd have to examine it under a microscope to make any headway. -- Mike Diamond

[19Lyds]

The groove is incused on the reeding Mike and in most cases does not go completely around the circumferance. Kind of tapering off as shown in the second photo.

I would expect that if it were the planchet that the strike from the coller would have closed the gap to a thin line.

PM me your shipping address and I'll forward a set to you. I was going to return these since I don't really think they are gradeable but I also think it is something which requires a response from the US Mint.

[19Lyds]

I found your address off the CONECA Page. I'll send these out today.

[diamond]

It's better to mail things to my home address, as I visit my P.O. box infrequently. Send me your e-mail address. I can be reached at mdia1@aol.com.

[19Lyds]

The label has already been printed Mike. I would guess it would arrive no later than Tuesday next week.

[19Lyds]

After posting this on the PCGS site, and reading the responses, I decided to look closer with the microscope. I don't know why I didn't do that in the first place.

At any rate, the groove, upon 30x examination, is not machined but does indeed look like the remnants of a groove in the original planchet. I added arrows to indicate the high point on the reed.





In the recesses of the groove, it looks like deformed metal instead of a squared/machined notch.

According to Tom DeLorey, these planchets are procurred from the Perth Mint and the upsetting process at that mint causes a groove to be imbedded in the edge of the planchet which may or may not get struck out of the coin.

I guess this means I won't be mailing this to you Mike.

[diamond]

Based on your photos I'd say your deduction is correct.