Atypical die cracks on a seated dime reverse die

Dismeguy

Please see the images below. One of the 16 known 1841-O varieties has a reverse die that degrades and shows die cracks that all originate from the rim and point directly to the center of the reverse die. One typically sees circular die crack rings through the wreath, not as seen on this 41-O reverse die. Can specialist from Bust or other seated series comment on their experiences with cracked reverse dies? Have you seen a similar pattern of die cracks? This dime is graded AU55 by PCGS for those who are curious.

Thanks for the help,

Coxe

When I specialized in seated varieties, I didn't see many with a number of radial cracks. Don't see serious clashing along with it too.

MrHalfDime

That appears to be an unusual, but not altogether unseen, pattern of die cracks. I cannot speak for the other Seated denominations, but in the half dimes a couple of similar shattered reverse dies come to mind. There is a variety of 1839-O (V2) with several radial die cracks that converge at the center of the die. For the year 1843, there are actually two distinctly different shattered reverse dies (Valentine's V4 and an as yet unnumbered marriage) with similar radial die cracks. There are several more that come to mind with equally shattered reverse (and some obverse) dies, but with fewer die cracks. The 1855 V4 has a huge reverse diagonal die crack that runs from rim to rim, bisecting the coin. The 1840 ND V6 has a similar large diagonal die crack that fully bisects the die, but this one is on the obverse. Other dates with massively shattered reverse dies include 1841, 1842 V1a, 1848 V5, V6, V7a, and the 1865-S V4. Like your dime, these dates seem to be clustered in the 1840s, perhaps reflecting a systemic problem, either with die steel or with striking pressure.

NumisOxide

Nice shattered reverse.

MikeInFL

Very interesting. I'm not a close follower of the seated series, but your coin reminds me of the "wheelspoke" variety of the 1829 large cent (pictured below), which has a similar reverse die crack:

slumlord98

Some early bust halves show that crack pattern, but usually after other cracks following more normal patterns develop. 1808/7 late states have a number of such cracks.