Die breaks on modern coins - how many point grade drop, if any?

golddustin

On classic coins, die cracks/breaks are used for authentication, die identification, variety attribution, etc. - but they don't seem to affect the overall grade of the coins. What about on moderns - does anybody know how die breaks are taken into account during the grading process? Since the coins are 'as struck' by the mint, I would like to think that they have very little effect, if any, on the overall grade.

Anybody who seriously collects the statehood quarters is familiar with that darn Philly obverse die that has been used since at least 2004, if not earlier. It has a break running from the lower left edge of G.W.'s bust east into the 'U' of 'Quarter' - and it has lengthened with each passing year. I have some SHQs that would grade very high, except for that die break - or maybe even with the die break, depending on how it is viewed by the graders.

Reading through the PCGS Guide to Coin Grading & Counterfeit Detection, the only mention made of die cracks is for detecting counterfeits - I could find no mention of their affecting the grade. I guess I should email or call PCGS and try to get a definitive answer - I don't want to spend much money on SHQs if the die crack is gonna hold the grade back.

Any TPG graders out there who can give an opinion on this?

frnklnlvr

I don't think die breaks/cracks would have any affect on the grade. But then again, I don't do much with the more recent moderns that you're referring to.