Question about die cracks on PCGS graded coins

I readily agree that the TPGs do not consider die cracks to be a negative that detracts from or lowers the grade. But they should !

I say that because die cracks are by definition a flaw in the coin, and all flaws are supposed to count against the grade.

And before somebody else brings it up, the argument of the coin being "as struck" - doesn't hold water.

 

But none of that has anything at all to do with establishing a coins grade.

Think about this; quality of strike - that's definitely an as struck quality, and it definitely counts for or against a coins grade. Quality of luster, another as struck quality, and it definitely counts for or against a coins grade. Being weakly struck, and yeah it's different than quality of strike, and is an as struck quality, and it definitely counts for or against a coins grade. Strikethroughs, another as struck quality, and another that definitely counts against a coins grade. Planchet quality, another as struck thing, yet it counts for or against a coins grade. Being well centered or not, another as struck quality, that definitely counts for or against a coins grade. The list goes on. All of these things can be flaws, and when present they all count against the coins grade when the coins are graded by anybody, including the TPGs.

Die cracks - also as struck, and also flaws. So how, and why, could they possibly NOT count against a coins grade ?

Flaws are flaws, it doesn't matter what they are or how they got there. The only that matters is that they are there ! and if they are there, then they count against the coins grade.

 

From such a die - yes.

However, the die is not supposed to be cracked. And a cracked die is definitely flawed because it's damaged, broken. And if the die is flawed then the coin it produces must also, by definition, be flawed. That die crack on the coin is absolutely not supposed to be there ! It's not on all the other coins struck with other uncracked dies, it's not part of the coin's design. There is simply no other way to look at it except as a flaw !

You have to remember, the way things must be compared is this - the coins produced by a flawed die compared to the coins produced by a die that is not flawed, a die that has no die cracks. Put those 2 coins side by side and, with all other things being equal - the coin without the die crack must grade higher than the one with the die crack. It's really just common sense.

And since that methodology applies to all the other things I mentioned with as struck coins that do apply to the grade - it should apply to die cracks as well.

Also, I readily acknowledge there is nothing wrong with anyone liking coins with die cracks. If you like die cracks, for whatever reason, great ! More power to ya. But, what you personally like, or dislike, has no effect whatsoever on the grade of a coin.

 

If nothing else, think of it this way. With all other grading criteria being equal -

- can a coin that is weakly struck grade as high as one that is well struck ?

- can a coin with so so luster grade as high as a coin with great luster ?

- can a coin that has an average strike grade as high as one that is fully struck ?

- can a coin that is struck slightly off center, (one sides rims being wider than the other) be graded as high as a well centered coin ?

- can a coin struck on a flawed planchet be graded as high as coin struck on a very good planchet ?

In every single case, the rules of grading say that NO, these coins cannot be graded as high as the others. Every single case ! And there are other similar cases as well.

So ask yourselves, if it is true in all those cases, then how can it possibly not be true when it's a die crack ?

Logic, common sense, and all the rules grading say that coins with die cracks cannot be graded as high as coins without die cracks. You simply cannot just pretend that the die crack(s) is not there ! It must be taken into account as a negative when grading the coin.