SD-10c-1996P-02 Split Die

Description

Second in the split die catalog for the 1996-P Roosevelt Dime, SD-10c-1996P-02 documents a die that experienced complete fracture across its working face at the Philadelphia Mint. A split die differs from ordinary die cracks in severity: while a crack traces a raised line on the struck coin, a split involves full separation of the die into segments that move independently under striking pressure, producing visible displacement along the fracture line where one portion of the design sits higher or lower than the adjacent section. The result is a coin with a step or shelf across its surface that dramatically alters its appearance. Two cataloged split dies from a single date-mint suggests either a die steel batch with unusual fatigue characteristics or production conditions that accelerated crack propagation beyond the normal rate. The 1996-P Roosevelt Dime commemorates the 50th anniversary of the design's introduction in 1946, though no special commemorative treatment was applied to circulation strikes. Philadelphia Mint production. Cataloged and verified by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Heritage Auction
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References