This is an oddie. It appears that the planchet had a rather odd flaw section before being struck. Perhaps stamped out from the rough end of a roll? I initially thought someone had given it an acid bath but there appears no impact on Lizzie, Australia or the date and the upper line appears to extend onto the rim. Nothing out of the ordinary on the reverse either (apart from the coin counter / roller mark).
As usual a plethora of pics.
Thoughts?
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11067/1996_1_plan_1.jpg)
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11067/1996_1_plan_2.jpg)
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11067/1996_1_plan_3.jpg)
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11067/1996_1_plan_4.jpg)
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11067/1996_1_plan_5.jpg)
Must be tough silverfish in your neck of the woods to do that Uni!
To my inexpert eye it looks like a planchet flaw but I'm sure that one of our more knowledgeable forumites will be able to provide a surer answer.
Pedro
Looks like "road Rash" to me old Mate :ok:
I tend to discount the "road rash" theory. There is evidence of coin roller damage on some of the legend and the field below the Queen and of course plenty of circulation wear, but that doesn't explain it.
On the pic below to the right of the black lines you will see the flaw line. There is a distinct drop in height of the fields here from the green crossed (normal) field down to the red crossed lower fields. As the Queen would have been pressed out of these her image contains no flaw. The sharpness of high/low mark where they join either side of the Queen's image to me says it's not caused by damage. Additionally, the Australia legend, despite being in the lower field area really has no damage (apart from roller marks) to indicate a post minting cause (ie: acid). There are a few additional dots (blue arrows) down into the high field, which also makes me think planchet.
If it was PMD my question I suppose would be how would damage dig out the whole (red x) section behind the Queen's head without damaging the Queen?
Note: The drop in field height easily stops a toothpick.
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11067/1996_1_plan_2a.jpg)
IMHO it is most likely a planchet flaw that existed prior to minting.
Bear in mind that I know diddly-squat about the minting process, but I think that any deficiencies that may have been in the 'other' areas, eg under HM's head and in the legends were filled when the coin was pressed. That explains why the deficiencies are only to be seen in the flat fields around HM's head.
I would love to be able to see this coin under the Microscope.
Anyway, that's my take on it and if other people can offer better or more convincing explanations, let's hear them. :whistle2:
Nice find Uni, I am going with the fish theory but how do we ascertain it is silver.? (groan). :dodgy:
:laugh2: ...... On ya Robster, you might have to do the bite test!
The raggity edge between fields reminded me so much of paper that had been eaten by silverfish.
Good description imo. :good: