PART IV. Die Errors:
Die Damage:
Die Gouges
Definition: Die gouges occur when a foreign object is dragged across, and digs into, the die face. Such gouges will appear as raised areas on the coin’s surface. Die gouges are easily confused with linear die dents. The former are most easily diagnosed when there are clear longitudinal striations within the body of the die gouge.
The image below shows die gouges in bays 7 though 11 (indicated by white arrows) on a 1999 (P) Lincoln cent