Options
Did I just find my first “die crack” ever??
MKUltra24
Posts: 655 ✭✭✭✭
Hello friends!
Ok so first of all I want to say:
I know that die cracks do not increase value. This is simply me trying to learn.
So I was just looking at some coins my uncle got me for Christmas (3x 1921 Morgan Dollars from P, S and D Mints).
Upon examination with my loupe I noticed this faint crack running across the top of the letters. However it does not appear to be post Mint damage.
Just wondering: Did I just find my first real die crack?? If so I’m super proud of myself. xD
If not: Please explain what it is. As I said I am simply trying to learn.
Thank you kindly 
4
Comments
Yep, that would be a die crack.
Nice!!!
Now I know that I can identify die cracks!
Yes, and sometimes they do increase value.
Example: "Scarface".
Oh well I just meant the ones on my coin.
I just didn’t want people coming in and posting about how my coin has a minor die crack and it doesn’t affect the value.
Because I knew that already.
Nice catch. There are some nice ones out there
Hey thanks!
The funny thing is I wasn’t even looking for die cracks.
I was just using my loupe to look at my Morgan Dollars under magnification so I could get an idea of what real, authentic, Morgan Dollars look like.
Apparently there are a lot of fakes out there so knowing what real Morgan Dollars look like helps to identify the fakes.
Nice find!
@MKUltra24 Wanna get crazy?.......now go to VAMWorld to appreciate Morgan die cracks and breaks big time. Have fun. Peace Roy
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW
That is a die crack!
They are interesting, aren’t they? Adds character to the coin in most circumstances.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Congrats on your find! Die Cracks are pretty cool, and they help identify ... go figure ... the die the coin was struck with!
The interesting thing about this is, for many coins pre-20th Century, enough research has been done where many noticeable cracks have been documented, and even used to determine die marriages, and states.
For Morgan and Peace Dollars, VAMworld (as suggested) will make your eyes pop.
Also, sometimes cracks increase values, where sometimes they actually decreases the value. But it always seems to help the coolness
factor in my opinion.
To illustrate my valuation point I'll show a Bust Half haven't shared here yet. WITHOUT the cracks this coin is probably worth at least double what I paid, because this particular marriage doesn't seem to exist in any quantity without the cracks. In fact, I can't find evidence of a straight-graded AU coin without the cracks. With the cracks (like mine) it is more commonly available.
Mine seems to be an intermediate state between what Al Overton described as a 104 and a 104a however, missing both one of the listed reverse cracks, and one of the obverse cracks used to describe the marriage.
On the Obverse you'll find two; a spidery crack from the rim, through Star 3 to Liberty's nostril; and another from the 18 through the lower Bust and to the inner point of Star 1 (mine doesn't quite make the connection to Star 2). Missing is a crack from the second 1 through the 4 and to the lower Curl.
On the Reverse, there are also two; a prominent crack through the lower half of the U, across the wing and then across the Olive leaves to the base of the Arrows; and another from the last S in STATES, across OF A and to the edge above M. Missing is the crack from the base of U, under NI and to the base of T, then upward through ED in UNITED.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Die cracks are interesting... and as stated above, help to determine die marriages ... also, sometimes one can find the progression of the crack on other coins as the die moved to failure. Cheers, RickO
I share your enthusiasm about die cracks as well.
Die cracks add character to a coin. Nice find.
The 1921 Morgan's are infamous for die cracks. Cool find!
My Original Song Written to my late wife-"Plus other original music by me"
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8A11CC8CC6093D80
https://n1m.com/bobbysmith1
I always liked the 1814 half pursuit. The thrill of the chase 😎
Some die cracked coins are highly desirable. And quite expensive. Even Redbook varieties, simply because of the crack.
Consider the 1807 capped bust half known as The Bearded Goddess. The bigger and bolder the crack the better.
Lance.
Here's the same date with the die crack growing.....found them both in the wild off ebay.
I love die cracks too. Not so much from a value proposition although it definitely can get to that, but more so from a diagnostic perspective. One can tell about emission sequence, die state and period of manufacture when combined with other historical records. When I get to that point of research and immersion with the hobby is when I feel I get the most out of it. I truly feel each is an artifact of history with a major role in the Society/economy they correlate to.
There are some between the letters but my cell phone didn’t pick them up
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set