chasing and tool marks
Digital cameras can have their limits.
If you have access to a flat bed scanner, and can set the resolution to 1200 dpi or higher try this. Scan individual letters where you think they've been worked with a chasing chisel and hammer. Engravers do not attempt removing large amounts at one time. They will lightly scratch a line sometime using an awl and using very little pressure on the tool. Then they go over the same line several times. Each use of the tool leaves marks on the surface until the engraving is as deep as they like it. There will be many small tool marks from each time the chisel is struck. Most tool marks can be removed but never all of them. Usually there are tell tale signs.
Before thinking it is easy to make one continuous deep line think about this. Write your name by putting a pen or pencil to paper and making a small line of two or three millimetres then lifing the pen. Then try putting the pen back in the same exact place where you lifted the pen and continue signing your name one small stroke at a time. Can you write your name without any stop or start points showing? If you try to write over your name a second time you still won't cover up all the start and stop gaps.
An engraver might get a few of the grooved "chasing marks" very smooth. He won't get them all smooth. If all of the grooves are smooth and no signs of tool marks that indicates the grooves were more likely part of the mould -or die if your convinced that's all it can be- than applied after the blank was made.
The example in the photos I have had no tool marks in any of the "chasing" grooves. I looked using a 20x lense and they simply weren't there in any of them. I'm not sure about the stippling around the crown though. That may be handwork.
Digital cameras can have their limits.
If you have access to a flat bed scanner, and can set the resolution to 1200 dpi or higher try this. Scan individual letters where you think they've been worked with a chasing chisel and hammer. Engravers do not attempt removing large amounts at one time. They will lightly scratch a line sometime using an awl and using very little pressure on the tool. Then they go over the same line several times. Each use of the tool leaves marks on the surface until the engraving is as deep as they like it. There will be many small tool marks from each time the chisel is struck. Most tool marks can be removed but never all of them. Usually there are tell tale signs.
Before thinking it is easy to make one continuous deep line think about this. Write your name by putting a pen or pencil to paper and making a small line of two or three millimetres then lifing the pen. Then try putting the pen back in the same exact place where you lifted the pen and continue signing your name one small stroke at a time. Can you write your name without any stop or start points showing? If you try to write over your name a second time you still won't cover up all the start and stop gaps.
An engraver might get a few of the grooved "chasing marks" very smooth. He won't get them all smooth. If all of the grooves are smooth and no signs of tool marks that indicates the grooves were more likely part of the mould -or die if your convinced that's all it can be- than applied after the blank was made.
The example in the photos I have had no tool marks in any of the "chasing" grooves. I looked using a 20x lense and they simply weren't there in any of them. I'm not sure about the stippling around the crown though. That may be handwork.
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