Die crack on 1944 Merc... Pic added

Jcarney

I was looking through a bunch of coins today and noticed a big vertical die crack on Liberty's neck. At first I thought it was a nasty scratch but nope, it's definitely not incuse. Are these common?

Trying to get a good pic...no luck so far.



Here's the Ebay coin

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i>Are these common? >>



depends on the severity of the crack. the smaller, the more common. if it has opened up into a cud of any size, it is very scarce.

i've yet to see more than half a dozen cuds on mercs. i'm sure they are out there but haven't crossed my path.
.

Jcarney

Hi Lance, I just saw a completed auction on Ebay with a similar crack. My dime's crack is a little to the left.

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i>Hi Lance, I just saw a completed auction on Ebay with a similar crack. My dime's crack is a little to the left. >>



Hi John, cracks on coinage overall are quite common. pressure and quantity exceeded the dies tolerance to hold up. the rarity will be based on length, height(aka depth), width, year, denom.

value/desirability takes the rarity formula to a whole other level with many factors being difficult variables.
.

pursuitofliberty

Not extremely common, but common enough that I have seen the type of crack I think you are refering on at least several dates ... from faint to what I would consider heavy ... usually in an almost vertical direction from the rim up the neck. There are several different placements I have seen for this area, from about 1/3 towards the front of the neck (vertical from where the bust is very close to the rim), to in front of the neck and through the letter S in TRUST.

Someone described one running up the back of the neck (described to me a just behind the neck), but I never have seen that one.

The neck placements I have seen sometimes extend into the curls where the ear would be.

Hope to see your pictures.

Unknown

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cheezhed

I like it, nice die crack.

keyman64

Die cracks are fairly common on late date Mercs. A crack very similar in nature is a marker for the 1940-S FS-901 DDO/DDR. I saw 7 of them in Mint State the last show I went to. It is also common to see cracks through the hair/feathers/cap from the top edges.

Jcarney

<< <i>Nice lookin Merc, but not a big die crack by any stretch of the imagination, sorry. >>



I'm afraid the picture doesn't capture it all. The crack runs from the hairline to the rim. Not thick, but long.

Edit: Actually, it's two die cracks. The lower crack runs from the rim to above the neckline truncation. The upper crack is straighter, starts to the left of the top of the lower crack and continues to the hairline.

Considering the die cracks and the great luster and nice fields, I think I'll keep this coin. I'm embarrassed to say it was sitting at the bottom of a box, unnoticed.

Jcarney

OK, this pic shows the cracks a little better.

DIMEMAN

Sorry, quite common.

Jcarney

<< <i>Sorry, quite common. >>



This is actually good news. Are these common in all the later dates? It gives me an idea for a set. The short set, all lustrous and gemmy, all with die cracks. In a black Capital holder.

DIMEMAN

I haven't paid ant attention. Most I have seen have been the 1940-S. It would be a fun set. I started a Machine Doubling set years ago. Have quite a few, but some Mercs are so expensive that buying a dup just to get the MDD is too much money.