Help understanding die breaks/cracks .... (caution..large images)

thearms

This is a 1902-O Morgan....I was just wondering why a coin would have so many different die cracks or die breaks(not sure which is which)...It looks like some of them are raised and the line going from the "U" to the branch seems not raised.

Would appreciate some "schooling"....Thanks!

MrLee

What I see are die cracks which are caused from the enormous pressure used to force the metal into the dies. The dies crack from the pressure and the metal flows into them causing a raised crack on the coin.

A die break would be a letter, number or part of the design that broke away and was filled with metal. The line you talk about in the "U" is possibly a small dent made from a foreign object between the dies like a metal shaving or a scratch which happened after it left the mint.

Those are great pictures BTW.

Wolf359

Did someone say "Die Break"?

Plenty examples here. On your coin, possibly a small one over the 'E' of 'STATES' on the reverse.

thearms

Thanks you for the information!