Definition: Hairlines are thin, incuse (sunken in), tiny little scratches on the surface or devices of a coin, usually caused by slider marks or cleaning. They are readily visible under 10x magnification and good light, and detract from the value of high-grade coins.
Be careful that you distniguish hairlines from abrasion or die polishing marks, which appear as tiny little raised scratches on the surface of the coin. Abrasion marks are caused by polishing the coin dies at the mint, and do not detract from the value or grade as severely as true hairlines do.
Be careful that you distniguish hairlines from abrasion or die polishing marks, which appear as tiny little raised scratches on the surface of the coin. Abrasion marks are caused by polishing the coin dies at the mint, and do not detract from the value or grade as severely as true hairlines do.
Examples: He thought he was keeping his coins safe in that fancy Dansco album, but every time he got his coins in and out of the album, he was causing hairlines to appear on Miss Liberty's lovely cheek from the plastic sliders that "protect" the coins.
