First try at trying to get some Die Chips collection going; so I humbly ask for your vast knowledge and opinion. Have a 1985 D quarter and on the reverse on found these. If the one image of the head is indeed a die chip I am going to call it my drawling eagle; the eagles right wing I believe is also a die chip, hesitant to call the left wing a chip, thing more that it may be just damage. Please help Thank you all
The mark on the right wing (viewer's left) looks like a hit from the reeds of another coin. The mark on the left wing (viewer's right) looks like circulation damage. The mark below the beak looks like a crack. Sorry, no die chips here! Chris
Those are all contact marks as they're called. In fact, you can even almost see the shape of another coins rim on one of them.
Well there ya go, thank you so much. That is why we newbies should consult the experts instead of just jumping to conclusions. I sure do appreciate the input.
They are all PMD, Post Mint Damage. A die chip would leave a raised area. A die chip means a piece of the die has broken off. When the die strikes a blank planchet metsl is forced into the chip on the die. This in turn leaves a raised area on the coin. The same thing happens with a die crack.
