1802 Draped Bust Large Cent S-239 Obverse Retained Interior Die Break

Description

Identified by the Sheldon variety number S-239, this 1802 Draped Bust large cent exhibits a retained interior die break on the obverse. A retained interior die break occurs when a section of the die face within the interior design area fractures and shifts but remains held in place rather than falling away. The broken piece continues to strike coins, producing a distinctive raised area with visible crack lines around the affected zone while still preserving most of the original design detail. On this specimen, the retained break runs from the rim at approximately the 9 o'clock position and extends in front of Liberty's face through the ER in LIBERTY. The result is a disrupted but legible design field where the displaced die fragment has created subtle topographic variation in the struck surface. Early copper large cents are particularly susceptible to die failures of this nature due to the relatively soft die steel used at the early United States Mint and the large planchet diameter requiring greater striking pressure. The Sheldon S-239 die marriage anchors this variety within the established early cent classification system.

Attribution History

• Discovered by NumisDexDealer
• Sheldon S-239