RRDC-1c-1840-01 Bisecting Rim to Rim Die Crack

Description

Catalogued by Cuds on Coins as RRDC-1c-1840-01, this 1840 Braided Hair Coronet Head Cent — Large Date variety presents a dramatic bisecting rim-to-rim die crack, one of the most visually arresting die deterioration events in American numismatics. The Braided Hair Coronet Head cent was designed by Christian Gobrecht and struck in copper from 1839 through 1857. The die crack on this Large Date example passes directly through the face of Liberty, running from one rim to the opposing rim. While the crack's path places it on the threshold of a split die classification, the width of the die crack is too narrow to qualify as a true split die — a designation reserved for cracks wide enough to cause the die halves to shift and produce a raised fin of metal across the coin's face. It is instead catalogued as a bisecting die crack. For collectors of early American copper, a rim-to-rim crack on an 1840 large cent represents a compelling combination of historical age, dramatic die failure evidence, and the appeal of Gobrecht's portrait design. Attribution to the Large Date variety should be confirmed before assessing the die crack path.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Redhawk on ebay
• Cross reference: none. The die crack is seen through the face of Liberty, from rim to opposing rim. While on the verge of being a split die, the width of the die crack is too small to classify it as such. 02/01/2014.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References