Starburst stamp variations (20 Viewers)

[at_the_third_place]

As I’ve accumulated a number of Starburst chips, I’ve noticed variation in their hotstamps. I made the mistake of sorting lots out and finding that there appear to be three variations, which I'd call the stock stamp (A), fat stamp (B), and small stamp (C):

Try as I might, I have not been able to find any discussion on the subject here. I’d like to know what the deal is? Is there one canonical stamp? Is this the result of different stamping vintages? Is it a matter of factory Starburst versus cancellation or aftermarket stamping?

 

[AlbinoDragon]

I'll let the stamping experts here chime in for what is going to be the correct answer, but my guess is what you are seeing is just variations in how the stamp(s) were applied. Heavy stamper on one day vs. a light stamper on another? A sharp, new die vs. one that's been used for a while?

Otherwise, I don't see any difference in the pattern of the stamp itself. It's the same design, just applied to different thickness/depth/density.

 

[Gear]

I would agree with respect to A and B -- they are the same size, and likely the same die (or set of dies) with just varying pressure/temperature/whatever.

However C is definitely a different die, since it has a smaller diameter overall.

I have noticed this myself when milling starbursts -- the smaller starbursts are easier to mill, because they are smaller! i.e. easier to make sure you're hitting all of the foil.

I strongly doubt that Paulson/GPI makes (or made) any distinction between them. A starburst (cancellation) stamp is a starburst (cancellation) stamp.

 

[Gear]

Also there is (mostly) no such thing as after-market starburst stamping, at least not in the samples shown above. All of those would have been done at the factory, because to my knowledge Paulson has essentially never sold blank chips. (i.e. chips with neither hotstamps nor inlays.)

There are indeed plenty of chips that were stamped (long?) after being made, as you might infer from the name cancellation hotstamp. But those are immediately obvious, since they are stamped over the original stamp or inlays.