SD-1c-1864-01 Split Die

Description

Among the most extreme forms of die failure in numismatics, a split die occurs when a working die fractures into two or more separate pieces rather than merely developing surface cracks. SD-1c-1864-01 records a median split die on the 1864 Indian Head Cent Bronze No L variant—the first bronze-composition Indian Head cent issued without designer James Longacre's initial "L" on the headdress ribbon. The median classification indicates that the die cracked roughly through its center, dividing the die face into approximately equal halves rather than losing a peripheral fragment as in a cud. A median split produces a distinctive signature on struck coins: a prominent raised line running across the center of the design, often accompanied by displacement or weakness on one or both sides where the separated halves shifted under striking pressure. The 1864 Bronze No L cent marks a transitional moment in the Indian Head series—the first year of bronze composition after the earlier copper-nickel issues. Cataloged and verified by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• Cross reference: none. Median split die.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References