RRDC-1c-1972D-01 Bisecting Rim to Rim Die Crack

Description

Dramatic evidence of severe late-stage die deterioration, RRDC-1c-1972D-01 documents a bisecting rim-to-rim die crack on the 1972-D Lincoln Memorial cent — a single continuous fracture running from one edge of the die completely across its face to the opposite rim, effectively dividing the die into two major sections. The Cuds on Coins attribution team cataloged this variety on February 1, 2014, with no external cross-references established. Rim-to-rim die cracks represent one of the most advanced forms of die deterioration short of complete die failure: the die has cracked entirely through its working face, yet both halves remain sufficiently aligned and supported by the die holder to continue producing recognizable coins. On the struck coin, this variety presents as a raised line traversing the entire diameter of the piece — a continuous ridge of metal that fills the crack in the die during each impression. The visual effect is striking: a single unbroken line bisecting the familiar Lincoln cent design from edge to edge, crossing whatever inscriptions, devices, or field areas lie in its path. Such cracks develop when accumulated fatigue stress finds a propagation path that connects two points on the rim, often following zones of weakness introduced during die manufacture. The die that produced RRDC-1c-1972D-01 was clearly in extremis — operating well past the point where quality control would ideally have removed it from service — a circumstance made more likely by the enormous production quotas the Denver Mint faced in 1972. Despite the severity of the crack, the die's containment within its collar and holder allowed continued operation, producing coins that vividly illustrate the resilience of hardened die steel even in a severely compromised state.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Mark Shelton
• Cross reference: none. 02/01/2014.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References