Die deterioration

When a die reaches the end of its useful life, the molecular structure of the metal alloy it is made of begins to alter. After striking several thousand coins, the die begins to deform and lose its original molecular properties.

In some cases, the worn die may show an orange peel deterioration and therefore it will be possible to notice on the coins produced by this minting a porous surface directly proportional to the degree of deterioration.

In other cases, the die may expand, making the incisions located near the edge vulnerable. The die affected by this dilated die will present the reliefs in an incorrect position (always towards the outside). This phenomenon can be linked to other types of coin deterioration (E.C.55).

(E.C.55) 20 Centesimi 1940 R Impero - Vittorio Emanuele III
O/ Orange peel deterioration with dilation - Signature on the edge. Sena Coins collection.

Deterioration may also present as a raised ridge ring visible near the edge of the die. It is a simultaneous deformation of both die that involves only the area adjacent to the edge and always occurs on both sides of the coin (E.C.56 and E.C.57).

(E.C.56) 100 Lire 1990 R Minerva II tipo - Repubblica Italiana
O/ e R/ Die deterioration - Evanescent design elements. Crest ring near the edge - double edge. Sena Coins collection.

(E.C.57) 200 Lire 1979 R Lavoro - Repubblica Italiana
O/ and R/ Crest ring near the edge - double edge with expansion - Legend attached to the edge. Sena Coins collection.

The die deterioration can also develop in the form of very fine radial rays in relief that can expand from the edge towards the center of the coin. The so-called 200 Lire "long neck" are part of this sub-category of errors on cones as they have radial wear rays that have deformed the lower tip of the neck, extending it until it reaches the raised point above the signature (EC58 , EC59 and EC60).

(E.C.58 , E.C.59 e E.C.60) 200 Lire 1981 R Lavoro - Repubblica Italiana
O/ Radial spokes from die deterioration. Deterioration progression - Long neck. Sena Coins collection.

The wear of the die always involves the design elements, sometimes deforming them or canceling them completely, as in the case of the so-called 200 lire "bald head" (E.C.61, E.C.62 and E.C.63).

(E.C.61 , E.C.62 e E.C.63) 200 Lire 1979 R Lavoro - Repubblica Italiana
D / Bald head - Deterioration progression. Sena Coins collection.

Use the keyword die deterioration in the global search engine to view all the coins with this type of error. Login or Sign up to insert new coins in the search engine and know the prices and rarity of all the coins in our database. The service is totally free.