SD-10c-1994P-01A Split Die

Description

A split die represents one of the most dramatic forms of die failure — a crack that traverses the entire die face, splitting it into two or more sections rather than fracturing only at the rim or in a localized interior area. This first documented split die for the 1994 Philadelphia Mint Roosevelt Dime records exactly that catastrophic fracture, where the die cracked completely across its surface while continuing to produce coins. The "A" suffix indicates a specific die state, documenting the split at one stage of progressive deterioration. Unlike cuds, which form at the rim, or interior die breaks, which affect isolated sections, a split die creates a continuous crack line visible across the full width of the struck coin's design. SD-10c-1994P-01A is cataloged by Cuds on Coins. The Roosevelt Dime, designed by John R. Sinnock and in production since 1946, is struck at high speed on small copper-nickel clad planchets, and the mechanical forces can produce stress fractures that propagate across the entire die face. Split die varieties on dimes are less commonly cataloged than on cents, making this 1994-P example noteworthy.

Attribution History

• Cross reference: SD-10c-1994P-01A. 10/01/2013.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References