SD-10c-1996P-01 Split Die

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this split die variety on a 1996 Philadelphia Mint Roosevelt Dime documents an extreme form of die failure where the die literally split into pieces during the striking process, producing a dramatically distorted coin. A split die cap occurs when a die fractures so severely that one section remains attached to the hammer mechanism while continuing to strike planchets, creating coins with portions of the design displaced or missing entirely. Split dies represent the terminal stage of die deterioration — beyond simple die cracks, cuds, or retained breaks — where the structural integrity of the die has completely failed. The 1996-P Roosevelt Dime belongs to the clad composition era that began in 1965, and this is the first documented split die for the date. The Roosevelt Dime series, designed by John R. Sinnock and in continuous production since 1946, has generated a substantial body of die variety research across its seven-decade span. Split die errors are among the more dramatic mint errors because they produce visually striking coins that clearly show the catastrophic die failure, making them appealing to both error collectors and those who study the mechanics of die life and failure modes in high-volume coin production.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Fred Weinberg
• Cross reference number: none. This 1996-P Roosevelt dime was struck by a split die cap.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References