For you Canada Coin Collectors

[Bob P]

I only post these pics because I have very rarely (If ever) seen anomalies like this on Canadian coinage. Of course, you folks who look at them often may have seen this before. Any ideas??

The Obverse pic shows what I assume to be die deterioration around the entire profile. However, only the center device seems to be affected. All outer devices look fine:




This anomaly at first I assumed was a gas bubble or gouge. It is not a bubble though. Still maybe a gouge??

[Dick]

Bob, HI! I can't say for sure, but I don't recall having seen any coins with Die deterioration, bad enough to be readily noticeable. I'm thinking possible remnants of a die clask. The areas around the throat, just below the jaw, and back of the neck, and in front of the chin,and lower lip are all prone to clash damage. If Coop could make an overlay for rhe date, it might show what you are seeing, a bit more clearly. That lump between the 98 is not in the proper position to be a ckash remnant, I don't believe
Dick

[KurtS]

My take is also a badly eroded die--look at the blobby serifs of the letters in the legend.
I'm not good enough to comment on possible clashing without a lot of photoshop work.

[Dick]

Kurt, actually,I'm not either, but I do pay a lot of aattenttion to any clashes, and try to visually determine what is where. That, like die cracks draw my attention. The fact that it is only on the portrait, is the basis for my conclusion.
Dick