Found this 1994 Lincoln today. I'm thinking cracked planchet not cracked die. Does anyone else see it that way? I say that because it seems to go under the C in Cent and come out the bottom.
I would normally expect the crack to appear on both sides. Interesting that it is isolated to one side. Perhaps damage to the die field (witness mark) and not a crack.
A crack can be on one side. It does not have to be clear through the coin to be a crack. It’s metal, not glass.
it is actually 2 die cracks. if it were a planchet crack it would show either through or around the "C"
A die crack would be raised and this is not raised. The planchet is cracked so when the cent was minted the C came out as it should but covered the crack.
Well I didn't expect to start a controversy. All are plausible explanations to me. Really appreciate the responses.
I’ve seen plenty of material cracks on bends especially where the material was hard and when the bend was coined. Also when the tools are run too quickly. But on punched out materials, I can’t recall a time when the planchet/punch out cracked. But surely possible in my estimation. Given the soft nature of copper/zinc it seems an even rarer possibility. Given the enormity of opportunities with billions and billions of cents, we are bound to see things that are rare.
