And yet looking at these pictures it's difficult to escape the conclusion that the dimples and
rings were created
after striking. On the last coin for example, the furrow across Demeter's
head appears to be just as deep as it is in the
field. On most of these coins, the dimples and circles appear on high points -such as in the middle of a
bust. Looking, for example, at the
bust on the first coin that Jochem posted, surely the die is worn, rather than being a
weak strike as detail in the middle of the
bust (hair etc.) is missing whereas details round the edges of the
bust are present. Nevertheless the 'movement of metal' is greatest at centre of the
bust and I would have thought the pressure at that point would be sufficient to eradicate any furrows and dimples. In fact on the
reverse of that coin, the dimple seems to have a raised
rim, which should not be possible.
Just my opinion.