File marks found on many pre-19thC coins which have been 'adjusted' (filed down) to the correct weight. It was a worldwide practice which occurred from ancient times until the early 19thC, when new manufacturing techniques made it possible to cut blanks from consistently rolled metal sheets. Excess metal was filed off overweight blanks before the coins were struck to ensure that they were of consistent weight. Sometimes blanks were made deliberately overweight to avoid the more expensive remelting process necessary for underweight coins.
Clipping or filing marks made by the Mint on gold or silver planchets to correct the planchets' weight.
Marks caused by filing a planchet before striking to reduce its weight to the standard, as was sometimes done for early U.S. coinage
Marks or grooves caused by filing a planchet prior to striking in order to reduce it to a standard weight. This was a fairly common practice on many early U.S. coins, in particular bust dollars.
Scratches which appear mostly on pre-1807 silver and gold coinage. These scratches were file marks, , made at the mint in order to reduce the weight of a coin so that its metal value wouldn't exceed its face value. As such, adjustment marks do not reduce the value of a coin nearly as much as a series of equally visible scratches which were not "mint-caused."
Small striations or file marks found on early U.S. coins. These marks were caused during planchet preparation when a file was drawn across the coin to remove any excess metal. In doing so, the file reduced the planchet to its proper weight and resulted in a series of parallel grooves.
Small striations or file marks found on early United States coins. Made during planchet preparation (before striking) by drawing a file across the planchet to remove excess metal, resulting in a series of parallel grooves. This was done to reduce the planchet to its proper weight.
File marks made by the mint on a silver or gold planchet to correct its weight.