RRDC-1c-2015D-01 Bisecting Rim to Rim Die Crack

Description

First bisecting rim-to-rim die crack documented for the 2015 Denver Mint Lincoln Shield Cent, RRDC-1c-2015D-01 records a complete die fracture that extends uninterrupted from one rim of the coin to the opposite rim, creating a continuous raised line across the coin's entire face. Bisecting die cracks represent the most extreme form of die cracking short of a shattered die — while partial die cracks terminate before reaching the opposite rim, a bisecting crack demonstrates that the fracture propagated through the entire die face, indicating severe structural failure in the die steel. Despite this level of damage, cracked dies can continue producing coins because the surrounding die surface holds the fractured sections together under the pressure of the die retaining collar and bolster assembly. The 2015 Denver Mint cent was part of the Lincoln Shield Cent series introduced in 2010, struck on copper-plated zinc planchets at one of the highest annual production volumes among circulating denominations. Denver's output of cents routinely runs into the billions, consuming thousands of die pairs and making die cracks of all severities a statistical certainty. First cataloged on December 10, 2018 by Cuds on Coins, no independent cross-references have been identified. The zinc-core planchet composition in use since 1982 has distinctive striking properties that influence how die cracks manifest — the softer zinc filling can capture fine details of the crack pattern that harder compositions might not fully reproduce.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Thomas A
• Cross reference: none. 12/10/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References