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Coins produced from shattered dies

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  • NSPNSP Posts: 322 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Here is my 1818 B-6 bust quarter. The reverse die has four different die cracks going from the eagle to the rim.

  • NysotoNysoto Posts: 3,818 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Shattered dies are among my favorites, I need to image more of them.

    Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty - biography of US Mint's first chief engraver
  • DCWDCW Posts: 7,326 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @sjcoins said:

    This is the most prominent example I could think of when "shattered dies" were mentioned.

    Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
    "Coin collecting for outcasts..."

  • ldhairldhair Posts: 7,237 ✭✭✭✭✭


    Larry

  • scubafuelscubafuel Posts: 1,850 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Here is a bust quarter with shattered date!

  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,954 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 29, 2020 4:54PM

    Reverse is cracked in half from 2:30 to 8 o'clock.

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • yosclimberyosclimber Posts: 4,790 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 29, 2020 5:35PM

    Some spectacular coins here, but I can't help but wonder about the definition of "Shattered".
    Some of the coins here I would call spectacular cuds but not really shattered.

    1. I think one good qualifying definition is "pie shaped" - the cracks reach the edge of the die in at least 3 places, and go near the center.
      This term is used for several LS Dime varieties.
      https://www.seateddimevarieties.com/major_25_table2.htm

    Several of these occur on LS Half Dimes (all are on the Top 100 list):
    1839-o V-2b, 2c
    1839-o V-5
    1840 V-6, 6a, 6b (at first just a "bisecting" crack, then 2 more cracks appear).
    1842 V-1a
    1843 V-2, 2a
    1843 V-7, 7a
    1847 V-6a (crack not close to center, maybe not really shattered)
    1848 V-6, 6a (cracks not very close to center, though)
    1848 V-9
    1854 V-8 (close enough to center?)

    There is also the 1841 V-9 which has a "bisecting stepped" crack. Does this count as more than one?

    Several other coins on the Top 100 have a "bisecting crack", which goes near the center.
    Always significant enough to make the Top 100 list, but not quite the same as having that third or fourth crack.
    https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1035720/top-100-seated-half-dime-varieties-list-and-112-page-pdf

    1. Another type of "shattered" would be coins where the die cracks are roughly circular - go through legend or stars near the edge. Several have been shared here. Usually they are in the larger denominations like quarters and half dollars. The cracks do not go near the center, probably because the dies are more massive than the smaller denominations.

    I suppose as with many definitions, there can be things that are "just barely" and others which are "close but not quite". Such is life.

  • NysotoNysoto Posts: 3,818 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The 1797 T-1 rev DS-4 is definitely shattered:

    Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty - biography of US Mint's first chief engraver
  • NysotoNysoto Posts: 3,818 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The 1795 T-23 obv DS-3 has three strong die cracks from edge towards center, probably R-7 in this die stage:

    Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty - biography of US Mint's first chief engraver
  • scubafuelscubafuel Posts: 1,850 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I really like the extensive reverse cracking on the 1814 50c O-106a. Does anyone have one to show off? They seem scarce but not impossible to find.

  • edwardjulioedwardjulio Posts: 1,095 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 29, 2021 7:29AM

    NLH

    End Systemic Elitism - It Takes All Of Us

  • ksuscottksuscott Posts: 276 ✭✭✭

  • NysotoNysoto Posts: 3,818 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Here is a sleeper of a shattered die, 1806 O.125a/T-14 rev DS-5. PCGS has only graded one in the LDS 125a, which I own, VF20. Imaged is the VLDS of 125a that I have not had PCGS attribute, but it is certainly an R-7 rarity in Tompkins rev DS-5. Three massive die breaks from edge towards eagle's head, and a bunch of other minor cracks:

    Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty - biography of US Mint's first chief engraver
  • BaleyBaley Posts: 22,660 ✭✭✭✭✭


    Here's another

    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

  • KliaoKliao Posts: 5,560 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not the best example but this die pairing has a crack going right through the middle of the coin.

    Collector
    75 Positive BST transactions buying and selling with 45 members and counting!
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  • CryptoCrypto Posts: 3,689 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 12, 2020 4:22PM


    1891o dime in terminal die failure

  • ReadyFireAimReadyFireAim Posts: 1,825 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'll just toss this saint in for fun....Not mine :)

  • scubafuelscubafuel Posts: 1,850 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very cool! I’ve never seen a Saint with cracks that large.

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,125 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 13, 2020 7:21AM

    Imagine if this was used to strike something ;)

  • Love this thread. I could collect nothing but shattered die coins and be happy!

  • I know nothing about die cracks or shattered dies. Does this look like a shattered die crack to any of you folks out there on this liberty cap? It looks to me like a crack running from the rim to the chin along the cap to the other rim??? Input please. Jon

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