Do many classic commems have die breaks?

blu62vette · February 9, 2011 7:52AM

I was looking at some coins today and saw a Pilgrim with a huge die break, is this common on commems? I just have not noticed a break on a commem before.

RYK · February 9, 2011 8:15AM

I have not seen any, but I will bump this back to the top for someone who has.

Kove · February 9, 2011 8:41AM

I've only seen a couple, coincidentally both on the portraits of ships. One was on the reverse of a 1921 Pilgrim half, the other was on the reverse of a proof Columbian half.

PonyExpress8 · February 9, 2011 8:53AM

Rare but on some of the higher minted issues they do show up. So many of the classic commems have only a few thousand coins that that the dies just didn't get to the stresspoint.

Raybo · February 9, 2011 9:23AM

Here's a minor one, it goes right down the center of Houston's head (I enlarged it so the detail is a little washed out).

coinguy1 · February 9, 2011 9:23AM

<< I've only seen a couple, coincidentally both on the portraits of ships. One was on the reverse of a 1921 Pilgrim half, the other was on the reverse of a proof Columbian half. >>

It seems extremely unlikely that a Proof would have a die break.

Mesquite · February 9, 2011 9:27AM

Here is the only one I've had in-hand (or seen for that matter). There is a die crack (and perhaps the beginnings of a cud) on the reverse at 12:00.

Kove · February 9, 2011 10:25AM

<< 

<< I've only seen a couple, coincidentally both on the portraits of ships. One was on the reverse of a 1921 Pilgrim half, the other was on the reverse of a proof Columbian half. >>

It seems extremely unlikely that a Proof would have a die break. >>

Not only is there a Columbian proof die crack, but the die crack is used as one of the key diagnostics to tell whether you have a true Columbian proof (rare), or just a prooflike MS (somewhat plentiful in nice PL).

The diebreak is readily visible if you know where to look, like this Heritage Columbian proof photograph, horizontally at the very bottom of the large sail, between the first and second ribs from the right (on the sail above the spot). Yes, that's a crack in the die, caused at the beginning of the proof run from so much pressure and multiple proof strikes. It's not visible on MS strikes as shown in this MS photograph.

blu62vette · February 9, 2011 10:29AM

More than cracks though, the one I saw today was a large break like a earring type break on a Peace dollar.

coinguy1 · February 9, 2011 10:39AM

<< 

<< 

<< I've only seen a couple, coincidentally both on the portraits of ships. One was on the reverse of a 1921 Pilgrim half, the other was on the reverse of a proof Columbian half. >>

It seems extremely unlikely that a Proof would have a die break. >>

Not only is there a Columbian proof die crack, but the die crack is used as one of the key diagnostics to tell whether you have a true Columbian proof (rare), or just a prooflike MS (somewhat plentiful in nice PL).

The diebreak is readily visible if you know where to look, like this Heritage Columbian proof photograph, horizontally at the very bottom of the large sail, between the first and second ribs from the right (on the sail above the spot). Yes, that's a crack in the die, caused at the beginning of the proof run from so much pressure and multiple proof strikes. It's not visible on MS strikes as shown in this MS photograph. >>

Thank you.

RichieURich · February 9, 2011 11:06AM

I have an 1892 Columbian half with a prominent die break. I thought I had a pic of it, but I can't find it. WIll post when I find it.

yellowkid · February 9, 2011 11:54AM

I have a Pan Pac with a very small one on the reverse, I don't believe I have seen anything like a real crack.

Broadstruck · February 9, 2011 12:00PM

NGC has designated a couple 1920 Maine's with die breaks as mint errors.

Do many classic commems have die breaks?

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