A question regarding die cracks

GoldenEyeNumismatics

Why is it that when dies crack on modern coins, it tends to be a spike-like crack, while die crack on older coins tend follow much different paths?

LanLord

Excellent question, perhaps it's the massively reduced relief and fairly rapid removal from service that prevents a crack from assuming a pattern around the motto or other such areas of lettering.

notwilight

Just a guess but I'd say the new dies are probably much harder and alloyed for toughness. I'm sure the metallurgy is much improved. Modern dies last longer and don't crack as much. Older dies were probably hand hardened and the quality (of the heat treatment) depended a lot on the skill of the die maker. --Jerry

DennisH

<< <i>Just a guess but I'd say the new dies are probably much harder and alloyed for toughness. I'm sure the metallurgy is much improved. Modern dies last longer and don't crack as much. Older dies were probably hand hardened and the quality depended a lot on the skill of the die maker. --Jerry >>

Sounds like an excellent possibility.

ricko

As implied, technology has advanced, both in die making and in the minting process. Good observation though... Cheers, RickO

Steve27

I agree that it has a lot to do with materials engineering, but I also get the impression that cracked dies today are replaced as soon as the crack is noticed, while years ago the dies were used until the cracks were spread throughout the die.