RRDC-5c-1973D-01R Bisecting Rim to Rim Die Crack

Description

First bisecting rim-to-rim die crack cataloged on the reverse of the 1973-D Jefferson nickel, RRDC-5c-1973D-01R documents a die crack that propagated completely across the reverse die face, connecting two points on the peripheral rim and effectively bisecting the die into two zones. This variety represents one of the most advanced stages of die failure short of a full die split — the crack has traversed the entire diameter of the die, crossing through Felix Schlag's Monticello depiction and the surrounding inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, FIVE CENTS, and MONTICELLO to create a continuous raised line on struck coins from one rim edge to the other. Denver struck approximately 261.4 million nickels in 1973, generating substantial die turnover across the production year. The Jefferson nickel's 75% copper, 25% nickel composition creates hard planchets that impose significant mechanical stress on dies during each strike cycle — the resistance of the nickel alloy to plastic flow means the die must deliver greater force to fully form the design, accelerating the development of stress fractures in the die steel. The reverse location places this crack across Monticello's architectural facade, where the columned portico, steps, and dome provide a detailed background against which the raised crack line is readily visible. As the first (01R) bisecting crack cataloged for 1973-D, this variety may represent the only documented instance or the beginning of a census that includes additional entries. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins without additional cross-references, this dramatic die failure variety rewards examination under low magnification (5-7x), where the continuous rim-to-rim raised line should be visible cutting across the full reverse design.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Steve Young
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References