Gold Die Clashes! How to identify them

barney

I have recently purchased two one-dollar gold pieces which seem to exhibit unusual die cracks (or are they scratches). This 1861 has a curious reverse-the picture is not clear but you can see a curved-shaped
scratch or break:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=527&item=803783406

I also have a '74 $1 gold in PCGS 55 that also has a crack or scrach on the the reverse. The reverse die is also 5% rotated.

Does anyone have experience with die clashes-cracks in small or large gold?

Thanks,
Barney

cointagious

linkified

DaveG

I don't know specifically about small gold coins (I prefer half eagles and eagles), but I often see die breaks on both no motto coronet gold and no motto Liberty Seated halves and dollars.

I have the impression that it was fairly common, during the 1840s and 1850s, for the various US Mints to use the dies until they broke.

Personally, I like coins with die breaks. I think it gives them some "character".

Edited to add: As far as how to identify die breaks - if you see a raised line on the coin, that's usually a die break. If you see a raised "blob" on the coin, that may be a "cud", where a piece of the die broke off.

Conder101

I can't tell anything from that scan. Might be retained cud, die crack, scratch, or nothing at all.