RIDB-1c-1999D-02 Retained Interior Die Break

Description

Produced at the Denver Mint, this 1999-D Lincoln Memorial Cent is cataloged as RIDB-1c-1999D-02 — the second documented retained interior die break for the date and mintmark. A retained interior die break occurs when a portion of the die surface fractures internally, away from the rim, and the broken piece stays lodged in position. Subsequent strikes produce coins with a raised, irregular mass of displaced metal sitting within the normal design field, entirely surrounded by properly struck elements. This interior placement distinguishes RIDBs from rim cuds and gives them a distinctive visual character immediately identifiable to experienced collectors. The 1999-D cent was produced in enormous quantities as Denver maintained high output through the late 1990s, and the sheer volume of strikes ensured individual dies were pushed to structural limits. Interior die fractures are less predictable than rim breaks because they can originate at any stress concentration within the die face — tool marks, polishing inconsistencies, or metallurgical inclusions can all nucleate cracks that lead to complete separation.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Robert Oney
• Cross reference number: none. 05/05/2022.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References