Hairlines - What are Hairlines on a Coin?
From Susan Headley, former About.com Guide
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hairlines: Fine scratches in the surface of the coin, caused by improper handling. Not to be confused with die scratches.
hairlines
Fine cleaning lines found mainly in the fields of Proof coins, although they sometimes are found across an entire Proof coin as well as on business strikes.
half cent ...
hairlines - Very light lines or scratch marks on a coins surface. Sometimes hairline marks are caused when coins are cleaned or polished.
Hairlines: Tiny lines or scratches on coins, usually caused by cleaning or polishing.
Incuse: Opposite of relief, the part of a coin's design that is pressed into the surface.
Inscription: Words stamped on a coin or medal.
Hairlines - fine scratches on a coin's surface which may affect its grade
Half cent - a U. S. copper coin of that value, issued from 1793 to 1857
Half dime - a U. S. silver five-cent coin, issued from 1794 to 1873 ...
hairline: a thin scratch on a coin typically from improper cleaning, polishing, or damage
haze: a hazy film on the surface of a coin, typically occurs over time due to chemical reactions or exposure ...
Hairlines - Minute lines, typically on proof coins which were caused by light cleaning, polishing or light contact with plastic flips or plastic slides.
Hairlines - Light scratches in the surface of a coin.
Half Cent - A U.S. coin with a face value of 1/200th of a dollar first minted in 1793 and last minted in 1857.
Hairlines
Minute lines on coins caused by light cleaning, polishing or light contact with plastic flips or plastic slides, typically on proof coins .
Half Eagle
A United States five dollar gold coin.
Hairlines
Difficult to see scratches occuring on coins which have been cleaned or incorrectly handled.
hairlines
Light scratches in the surface of a coin, usually caused by light polishing.
half cent
A U.S. copper coin minted from 1793 through 1857 (1/200th of a dollar).
Hairlines - A series of minute lines or scratches, usually visible in the field of a coin, caused by cleaning or polishing.
Half Eagle - A United States $5.00 gold coin.
hairlines Fine scratches in the surface of the coin. Not to be confused with die scratches. half dime, half disme A silver 5-cent coin of the United States. The Mint Act of April 2, 1792, authorizes "half dismes." See also disme.
hairline: a fine, thin surface scratch that is usually caused by wiping a coin with a cloth. Hairlines affect grades and values negatively, depending on how many are present.
HAIRLINES
A series of minute lines or scratches, usually visible in the field portion of a coin and caused by abrasive cleaning, polishing, or other kinds of mishandling including poor or loose storage in abrasive holders.
Hairlines
Thin, shallow scratches on the surface of a coin, usually caused by improper cleaning, or mishandling.
Hairlines: Fine scratches in the surface of the coin. Not to be confused with die scratches.
Hub: A right reading, positive punch used to impress incused, mirror-image dies.
Incuse: The opposite of bas-relief; design is recessed rather than raised.
Hairlines
Thin scratches on a coin, usually in the fields or across the devices which are caused by rough or careless cleaning, wiping or drying of a coin.
Hairline
A thin line or scratch, generally observable in the field of a coin. Often caused by cleaning or polishing. Highly undesirable.
Half Cent ...
Die hairline scratches or striations - (see Die Wear)
Die Trial - any coin struck from production dies in the wrong metal. In the early years, pre-1800, die trials were struck to test the dies.
hairlines - very light lines or scratches on the surface of a coin. Sometimes caused by light cleaning or polishing. hammer die - top die. The hammer die is the top die that is placed on top of the coin blank and struck.
Lines Hairlines. Fine scratches, most often seen on Proof coins as these have deeply reflective mirror fields which get minute scratches easily. Lines are detrimental to a coin's value, moreso when they are noticeable to the naked eye.
Extra Fine - hairlines over the eye and ear are strong but slightly worn, all wing feathers are visible but the top and outside edge can be faint.
There are many grades above the XF condition as well, but these are the average grades.
See HAIRLINES, rub
Lint Mark
A repeating depression on a coin, usually thin and curly, caused by a thread that adhered to a die during the coin's production. Lint marks are found primarily on Proofs.
scratch A detracting line that is more severe than a hairline. The size of a coin determines the point at which a line ceases to be viewed as a hairline and instead is regarded a scratch; the larger the coin, the greater the tolerance.
abrasions - Light rubbing or scuffing from friction, not to be confused with hairlines or bag marks.
adjustment marks - Small striations or file marks found on early United States coins.
not quite there G/E Gold Eagle GEM Highest quality normally found in uncirculated coins, grades of MS64 & MS65 GRAFFITI Scratches or usually lettering done outside the Mint, not to be confused with Countermarks HL or HL's Hairline or ...
die polishing curls: Small hairline curls on the surface of a coin caused by circular polishing of the die
die polishing striations: Raised lines on the surface of a coin caused by abrasive polishing of the die that struck it ...
hairline scratches - very light lines or faint scratches on the surface of a coin. Sometimes caused by light cleaning or polishing. Usually detrimental to a coins desirability and value.
A delightful cameo Proof with very minor hairlines visible under magnification (which, of course, is why it has been called Proof-64 rather than, say, Proof-65 or Proof-66).
The break is rather thick to the I then it becomes a hairline from the I and passes through the a, ending just to the left of the top of the R in REX.
It features a right-facing head of Liberty with her hair bound up in a cap, a laurel wreath resting along her hairline and a diadem bearing the incused inscription LIBERTY over her brow. The designer's initial (B) is at the base of the neck.
Fields in open areas are free from hairlines/abuse, although if the fields are semi-mirrored a couple of light and minor hairlines might be allowed if not detracting. Patches of hairlines indicating abuse would not.
Description: Obverse: The variety shows very strong doubling of the obverse on REPVBLICA ITALINA, the laurel leaves in the wreath on Italia's head, some hairlines, esp.
Sometimes the plastic will develop hairlines, and I find that a 5X magnifying glass is very useful for determining whether the hairlines are on the plastic or on the coin.
Just a simple rub with a cloth can put hairline scratches on a coins surface that will damage the coin for good. You might not see these scratches with the naked eye but they are easily visible under magnification.
When grading this design, look carefully at the surfaces of the fields to check for hairlines, evidence of cleaning, removal of solder or retooling of the design elements.
Bumps, scratches, hairlines, etc. are factored into the grade, and, as noted, an EF-40 coin with problems can be slabbed simply as a VF-20, or a Proof-65 coin with lint marks can be encapsulated as a Proof-63 or some lesser grade.
The MS-62 will have nice color, good luster and fewer marks and/or hairlines. Most will show above average strike and good quality planchets.
The method of repair, known as stop drilling, required drilling along the hairline crack so that the sides of the fracture would not reverberate.
This grade is usually found with clean fields and distracting marks or hairlines on the devices OR clean devices with distracting marks or hairlines in the fields. The strike and luster can range from mediocre to excellent.
A term used to describe a coin that has been doctored in a specific way to cover marks, hairlines, or other disturbances. Often associated with silver dollars, it actually is used on many issues, mainly business strikes.
The date usually has an average strike and surfaces that are below average because of circulation marks, die cracks, hairlines, and rim nicks.
Following bag marks, and wear, the graders will look at scratches, especially hairline scratches that are typically only visible under 2x magnification. You should look for these also.
Surface preservation: analysts look for bagmarks, hairlines from cleaning or mishandling and other perfections (mint caused or man-made), their severity and their location on the coin's surface.
Abrasions - Light friction rubbing or scuffing that is different from hairlines and bag marks. Sometimes referred to as "cabinet friction" because many times it is caused by a sliding action in a coin cabinet.
If the coin has been cleaned with an abrasive, the coin will have hairlines. Also, abrasive cleaning often leaves some crud in the recesses of the coin (untouched dirt or left over abrasive).
H
Term Definition
Hairline
a thin scratch on a coin typically from improper cleaning, polishing, or damage ...
The magnifying glass is a great aid in examining the quality and authenticity of the coins. Details like hairlines or scratches, which are not visible to the naked eye, ...
Very lusrtous. Has some very light hairlines. Looks like a MS63.
Grade: 58
PCGS Number: 2067
Year: 1863 ...
FH / Full Head - A grading designation given to Standing Liberty Quarters as an indication of strength of strike. If Miss Liberty's full hairline, ear hole and the leaves on her laurel-like headband are visible, the coin is declared a Full Head, ...
The elements that make up a coin's grade. The main ones are marks (hairlines for proofs), luster, strike, and eye appeal.
AU
Shorthand for almost uncirculated.
1876, BU (MS62-3) Bright white with Proof Like surfaces, light hairlines, well struck lovely coin, in capital custom case $1,100.
2 : Detracting Marks: a collective term for bag marks, contact marks, abrasions, rim nicks, hairlines, scratches etc.
3 : Lustre: degree of (for silver coins).
Full mint luster for the date and mint are present. No more than two small non-detracting contact marks or flaws. No hairlines or scuff marks visible under magnification. Exceptional eye appeal. Copper coins must have lustrous original color.
S0131* 1462 Parthian Kingdom, Orodes I: AR 21 Drachm
$75.00
Obv. -- Diad. bust l.
Rev.
Archer seated r.
3.70 g
S0131v: Sellwood 30.11 dark tone, hairline crack, oth. gVF ...
It will usually have the most wear on the high points - hairlines, cheekbones, dress folds, and headgear (if present). Major parts of the design are clear, but minor details are weak.
623---Republic . 1894. 20 Centimes. Obverse hairlines. KM-45. EF/AU $18
624 HAWAII, Hickam AFB. ND. 50 Cents. Hickam AFP NCO Open Mess/Shield. Medcalf (1978) TM-16. AU $25 ...
Grades from MS-60 to MS-70 in one point increments are used for mint state coins. Criteria include luster; the number, size and location of contact marks; the number, size and location of any hairlines, ...
 See also: Coin, Mint, Struck, Dollar, Proof
  
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