Magpie, Simon. I respect your theory but I don't necessarily agree with it. Could be, could be not.
I doubt that this badge was manufactured on its own, so during mass production of badges surely there would be any number of 'flawed' sister badges on the production run. What I'm trying to say is if the press wasn't operating properly then the result would be the same for hundreds, if not thousands, of badges. This is the only badge specimen with this 'flaw' (if it is a flaw) I have ever come across. Moreover, the slugs are of different size whereas the voids are symmetrical. I also read somewhere that quality control would discard any imperfect strikes.
Are there any further thoughts on the blackening and if it would be connected in any way with the closed voids?
GTB
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