question for Wavey

cnladue · Veteran Member

Excuse this really dumb question-Concerning the trails and wavy steps,am I correct in beliving that the working die is the origin of this occurance?Does the type of metal being used have any influence in the creation?

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

It is not a dumb question at all.

Yes, it is the working die that seems affected, however, there also seems to be one master die, the reverse for the 1986 Lincoln cent that also has minor trails on every die (P, D and S). Look at the top of the letters in EPU and you will see some distortion to the horizontal bars on those letters. Also affected are the two Ts and the E in STATES on the reverse dies of 1986.

As to the metal of the coin being a contributing factor, "no" it is not. We have seen trails (wavy steps) on the Lincoln cent, the Jefferson Bison nickel, the Roosevelt dime, a few of the state quarters (both proofs and business strikes) and Bob P. has seen it on the Presidential dollar and I have seen it on the Sacagawea dollar.

Coop just sent me a Canadian cent that I know has weak trails on it, however, they are just to weak to prove my point. I fully expect to see a Canadian coin with a full set of trails turn up one of these days. The connection is that both MINTS, Canadian and USA, use the single squeeze hubbing process.

Hope that this answers your questions and if you do have any more, please feel free to firer away.

BJ Neff

cnladue · Veteran Member

Are certain die states more resposiable than others statistically?

cnladue · Veteran Member

Do you thinbk the cause is visable to the naked eye on the working die?

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

What you see on the coin is what is on the die. There are very few doubled dies and in this case wavy steps / trail dies that are visible with out some magnification. Recently, two such wavy step / trail dies have been found that can be seen without the add of a loop or scope and they are the one that Bob P. found (1999P-1DER-050WS) and the one that Tery N. found (1999-1DEO-007T). These two dies are set apart and are in the exclusive category of being majors die anomalies.

Since wavy steps / trails are formed during the hubbing process (which concludes when the hub has left the die face), they are a permanent fixture on the die for its whole life. Therefore, the only effect die state will have on these anomalies is the intensity that they are seen at. As the die ages, the lines (trails and wavy steps) tend to fade and become more diffused; very similar to what happens with a doubled die.

BJ Neff

cnladue · Veteran Member

does bob have any pics of this occurance on the pres dollars?I think I have some on some monroes , but I am having a hard time photographing them.

Bob P · Site Admin

I do not have the presidential dollars that had the trails on them. They belonged to a client. I will email her and see if I can borrow them for some pics. They are difficult to photograph, but with the right lighting and ramping, it can be done.

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

I would be interested in seeing any type of dollar with trails on it. I know that they exist, however, I have not had one in hand to examine.

BJ Neff

cnladue · Veteran Member

bob-are the trails on the obverse and are they on monroes?

Bob P · Site Admin

One Washington Dollar had the trails on the obverse (DENT 1789-1797), and the other was an Adams dollar with trails on the Reverse (head area and $1)