How to tell the difference! // Die Polish Lines VS Hairlines

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0:00 Intro
0:59 Die Polishing Lines vs Hairlines
2:26 Hairlines Example
3:10 Die Polishing Lines Examples
5:37 Grading and Final Thoughts

During one of my first visits to a coin shop a couple years ago, I came across a beautiful 1968 Mexican Olympic Coin, it even had a deep proof-like look to it, but, there was just one problem... I noticed what I thought were multiple "hairlines" on it. I was new to collecting, but I had been warned to steer clear of cleaned coins with hairlines. So, as much as I liked it, I decided not to buy it.

It wasn’t until sometime later when I learned about die polishing lines that realized that that's what I had seen on that coin, not hairlines from cleaning. And of course, now I wish I had actually gotten it.

So, in order for you to avoid making the same mistake as I did, today we’re looking at the difference between those 2 types of LINES we often encounter on coins; die polishing lines, and hairlines.

The former is a result of the minting process and can even be considered attractive at times, while the latter is a result of cleaning and is ALWAYS a bad thing! It can be tricky to know how to tell the difference between the two, but in this video, I’m going to show you how.

Die polishing lines are…
1. Scratches on the die. (BEFORE it strikes the coin)
2. RAISED, not incuse. (that’s because they’re scratches “into” the surface of the die which means they appear as RAISED LINES on a coin struck from that die. It often requires a jeweler's loupe to see if the lines on the coin are raised or not.)
3. Found in the fields of a coin and DO NOT cross over the devices.
4. Often found “touching” the base of the devices, (not only touching, but are also more pronounced since that is an “edge” on the die) and look like they go under the inscriptions.
5. Often very straight.

Hairlines are…
1. Scratches on the coin. (AFTER it’s struck) (Hairlines on the other hand are very fine scratches on the surface of a coin due to improper cleaning, and they are ALWAYS a bad thing.)
2. INCUSE, not raised. (In other words, they’re scratches “into” the surface of the coin)
3. Found both on the fields and the devices of the coin.
4. A result of cleaning and often produce a “halo” effect around the devices, and go over the inscriptions.
5. Often wispy, irregular, curvy.

I’m sure you’re all very familiar with what hairlines look like, so I’ll just show you this quick example of a 1989 Libertad which I actually purchased because of this cool-looking machine doubling in the lower inscriptions. I bought it online, and since the hairlines are not very harsh on this coin, they didn’t show up in the photos on the listing, but you can see how these wispy hairlines are very irregular and cross over the devices, while also creating a subtle halo effect.

Another fascinating difference between die polishing lines and hairlines is that they reflect light differently. Die polishing lines are raised and have the same original surface (or finish, if you will) as the rest of the coin, whereas hairlines are scratches INTO the surface of the coin, which expose the bright raw metal underneath.

So here we have the same coin, under different lighting. What’s interesting is that each photo depicts a different byproduct of the die being polished. The first shows the resulting proof-like look, while the 2nd shows the “scars” of that polishing. And either aspect can be highlighted depending on the lighting it is subjected to. As I mentioned previously these lines all run “under” the devices, with no halo effect. And, as you can see in this closeup, the lines are raised.

When it comes to grading…
Coins with hairlines will get the dreaded DETAILS grade, while coins with die polishing lines will straight grade.

Not everyone appreciates the look of die polishing lines on coins. Maybe it’s like toning, where some people like it, and others simply don’t care for it. Regardless, there are LOTS of mexican 20th century coins that show die polishing lines.

Personally, I tend to enjoy them if they aren’t too harsh. I actually quite like the “character” they add to the coin and I don’t mind them because that’s how the coin was struck. But I understand if some collectors view them as either neutral or a minor negative.