RRDC-5c-1942S-02R Bisecting Rim to Rim Die Crack

Description

Second reverse bisecting rim-to-rim die crack documented on the 1942 San Francisco Mint Jefferson Nickel in the wartime silver alloy composition, this variety records one of the most dramatic forms of die cracking: a fracture that extends completely across the die face from one rim to the opposite rim, effectively bisecting the entire design. Unlike contained die cracks that begin at a stress point and terminate before reaching the edge, or rim cracks that form at the die's boundary, a bisecting rim-to-rim crack demonstrates that the fracture propagated through the full diameter of the die — a catastrophic failure that typically indicates severe die fatigue or a flaw in the die steel itself. The 1942-S Jefferson Nickel in wartime silver alloy is historically significant: beginning partway through 1942, the Mint transitioned from the standard copper-nickel composition to a wartime alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese, conserving nickel metal for military applications. These wartime nickels are identifiable by their large mintmark placed above Monticello's dome on the reverse — a position not used before or after the war years. The silver alloy's different striking characteristics compared to standard copper-nickel may have contributed to die stress, though bisecting cracks can occur with any composition. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, RRDC-5c-1942S-02R documents a complete structural failure across the reverse die that produced visually dramatic raised lines spanning the full width of the coin, making specimens from this die pair among the most visually striking die crack varieties in the wartime nickel series.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Seth Addison / Chris Simpson
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References