1817 Matron Head Large Cent N-12 Obverse Unusual Die Crack

Description

Identified by the Newcomb die variety number N-12, this 1817 Matron Head large cent exhibits an unusual circumferential die crack running through most of the stars and the date on the obverse. Unlike standard rim-to-rim cracks that follow straight or gently curved paths, unusual die cracks trace irregular routes across the die face, and this example follows the arc of the star ring rather than radiating outward from the center. While circumferential cracks appear on other dates in the Matron Head series, the 1817 N-12 presents an exceptional example that is less commonly encountered than similar cracks on some neighboring years. The 1817 issue saw a mintage of 3,948,400 pieces, making it one of the more available dates in the series, yet examples preserving this distinctive crack pattern are scarce relative to the total surviving population. Copper large cents from this era were struck on hand-operated screw presses that subjected dies to uneven stress distribution, and circumferential cracking often reflects stress patterns radiating from the central hub impression during die manufacturing.

Attribution History

• Discovered by NumisDexDealer
• Newcomb N-12