Mint error 1897 Farthing?

Looking through some farthings that I have and saw these “ripples” coming from the bottom of the I in Farthing and travelling down the trident and to the tide, they do not look like scratches can anyone explain what caused these?

Normally a single raised “seam” (for lack of a better description) indicates a die crack.  Occasionally you see a coin with multiple cracks, indicating the die is near failure (breaking apart into pieces).

But if these lines are all raised (and so close together), it's something I don't know how to explain.  

They are definitely in the metal?  (not something stuck on the surface?)

in the metal as far as i can tell although I need the Macro on my camera to see it clearly and cant see anything similar anywhere else on anyimages on the web, thanks for your response

Looks to me like man made scratches/gouges pouring out of the I like water from a faucet.

To my eyes they looked raised, not scratches, but only the poster can confirm.

rsirian1

Looks to me like man made scratches/gouges pouring out of the I like water from a faucet.

My initial thoughts also but looking closer there seem to be raised parts as well as fissures, the more I look the odder it seems!

You both may be right but if someone took a sharp object and intentionally dug those lines down from the I they would be both raised and into the surface.

This is no die crack. This was intentionally scratched long after the fact. Why and for what reason, nobody can possibly know. People do and say strange things.

Thanks all for your replies I will go with the majority on this one but it has got me going through all my coins looking for flaws and / or mint marks I hadnt spotted before which should keep me ioff the streets for a Sunday afternoon, thanks again

Looks like PMD to me