Reading Wear Patterns (The Life of a Coin)

When you hold a "Slick" (a coin worn smooth), you are holding a survivor. The date is gone because a thumb rubbed it off. Whose thumb? Maybe a soldier buying a coffee in 1944. Maybe a mother buying milk in 1932.

The Archaeology of Circulation

• The Rim Dings: Dropped on sidewalks.
• The Black Tarnish: Sat in a jar for decades.
• The Shine on High Points: Carried in a pocket recently. Don't look at wear as "damage." Look at it as testimony.