1981 Lincoln Cent -improper alloy mix?

[Lady120]

Hello everyone- I am so happy to be part of this forum!
My question is concerning the pic of my 1981 Lincoln cent. Does anyone have any info to share?
Thanks!

[diamond]

This "wood grain" pattern is rather common in cents from the late 1970's and early 1980's. It presumably represents an improper alloy mix, although I've always been puzzled as to why it usually manifests on only one face.

[Lady120]

Thank You for the reply! Amazing I only inserted the face but there is some evidence on the back of the coin as well. I will scan and post. I have searched thru thousands and only found three of these coins.

[diamond]

Yes, some specimens do show the wood grain pattern on both faces.

[Goldfinger]

I have a Mississippi state quarter that has striations on both the obverse and reverse, but it's thinner bands of stripes. Would that be caused by the same thing?

[wavysteps]

The wood grain appearance seems to be only peculiar to Lincoln cents. Without seeing the striations on your quarter, it is hard to imagine what it is, however, I do have a hunch it is die damage caused by the ejection arm which leaves slightly raised lines on the coin itself.

BJ Neff

[diamond]

I have a Mississippi state quarter that has striations on both the obverse and reverse, but it's thinner bands of stripes. Would that be caused by the same thing?

Please describe the striations in detail. Are they raised, incuse, or do they lie at the same level as the field and design? Is your quarter discolored? I, too, have encountered quarters with thin, straight, tightly packed parallel lines.

[billscoins]

Hi everyone,
I have a copper coin with this wood grain pattern on it. It's 1788 Massachusetts Cent (I collect type coins also). It seems this mixing problem has been around a long time.
Bill

[Goldfinger]

Please describe the striations in detail. Are they raised, incuse, or do they lie at the same level as the field and design? Is your quarter discolored? I, too, have encountered quarters with thin, straight, tightly packed parallel lines.

They are tightly packed parellel lines, which run from 11 o'clock to 5 o'clock and the same on the reverse. They don't seem raised, and are the same throughout the coin. The lines are like a grayish color, but are not terribly dark. I'll try to get a picture, but it's kind of difficult. The quarter has other issues, such as weak strikes in the words and what not.

[diamond]

You're describing a phenomen I've seen on other quarters and dimes. I'm not exactly sure what causes the lines. They may be caused by the rollers that roll out the strip or the descaling brushes that clean the strip. There may be other explanations.