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1963 Proof Cent with displaced field die break/crack *Post your displaced field break*
ifthevamzarockin
Posts: 8,908 ✭✭✭✭✭
A slightly unusual find. Die cracks are common as we all know even on proofs. What makes this different is the fields are raised and the crack is harder to see. At first glance it looked kind of like a die clash rather than a crack. The photo with the red line shows the crack. The photo with the red filled areas are raised above the fields. The photo with the yellow fill shows the area that is raised the highest and the areas are raised in opposite directions. Just wanted to post for those who may not have seen this type of die failure.
The lines through the lettering is not roller damage it is the mint packaging
If anyone else has a displaced field break on any coin please feel free to post it. 
4
Comments
I see what you're talking about,
but I'm not certain it's a die crack,
based on the photos only.
I've seen that effect on circulation coins - I always assumed it was die wear.
I'll have to pay more attention...
Thanks for looking Fred. It is a very fine crack that I couldn't get to show up through the mint packaging. It was hard to see with a 10x so I had to get out the 16x to confirm there is a crack there. If needs be I can remove from the proof set.
From the photo, it looks more like local die collapse. This is fairly common due to uneven hardening.
Pretty cool!
Here is a minor one, have posted here before.
Collector, occasional seller
Thanks for sharing ChrisH
Perhaps die damage caused by a piece of metal being struck into the reverse die? Are there any corresponding marks on the obverse?
I can clearly see a crack, there are no marks on the obverse. Can post full coin both sides if needed but there is not much to see other than the small displaced break.
Here is a couple of quick pics.
Different lighting
Perhaps a small planchet bubble? A lamination that never broke loose?
@CaptHenway
In hand it is easy to see a crack. When I highlighted the photo I used the coin to see where the crack shows.
@Nysoto
Nice field break & nice overdate! Thanks for sharing!
@Nysoto
Thanks again! Yours show the height displacement much better than my small one. That is what I was hoping to show to help newer collectors that are not familiar with this type of break.
You're welcome. On early US coins, large die cracks were very common, for various reasons. The most common reason was the die hardening processes were not consistent, as explained by chief engraver Robert Scot in his report to Congress December of 1794, "the precariousness and uncertainty of hardening and tempering the Dies, whereby they are often lost without striking a single coin" (NARA RG104, folder 14):
I love displaced field die breaks. I collect everything that I find in the wild. Here is one of my personal favorites, a 1964-D Washington Quarter that has a pretty significant die break circling the top of the 1 in the date as well as quite a displacement out at the rim.
Look at the depth that the metal was forced down into the break. It's like a mountain range.
Here's another one. This is a 1922-D Peace Dollar with 3 different displaced die breaks. This particular coin may be a new die state discovery for the VAM-10a as it's a Very Late Die State. The obverse has two separate displaced field die breaks, the first above IN to the rim and the other above TRVST. The third and most significant is on the reverse at the E of UNITED.
@jtlee321 & @ldhair A couple of great examples! Thanks for sharing!