Help me determine if this is a PMD scratch or a die crack

Hey all,

I am taking the ANA Diploma Program and currently studying the Minting process and errors. I have been looking at my Peace Dollars trying to learn to distinguish PMD from actual errors.

Here is a Peace Dollar with several PMD scratches. But I think it also has an actual die crack. The scratches are incuse but the line that I am thinking is a crack appears to be in relief.

Here is the photo:



I've marked the suspect line with red arrows. Any thoughts? Am I just seeing things? I looked on VAM World and can't find a similar variety so maybe I am just crazy.

 

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Most Definitely PMD. Seeing things? It's called Pareidolia.

 

Well - at least it has a name.

 

I think you are correct. A scratch will usually skip over design contours / low spots but a die crack will run right through the high and low spots.
Some closer photo shot are necessary to give a more definitive answer, a 10X
loupe and low angle lighting should give you the answer.

I do not think pareidolia can apply to your question as you are just trying to distinguish one line from another and not seeing faces.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia

 

http://www.vamworld.com/wiki/File:1922-P_VAM-2BB_Break_Across_Neck.jpg

 

Most definitely a die crack. You can see that it is raised, or at least that's what I see.

 

I agree. It looks like a ridge, not a depression.

Edit: Welp, after enlarging the photo, now I am not sure of that at all. I also don't remember seeing a contiguous crack that long, defined, and unbroken.

 

Definitely a die crack Croesus. The 1922 Peace is one of the hardest to VAM. Looks like @mbogoman got it.
In the link below. Look at additional guides. It has the die breaks sorted out for easier identification.
1922-P VAMs - VAMWorld

 

Rays.....

 

Looks like a scratch to me. Where it continues at the rim and through the 9 in the date the line looks incused not raised.

edited to apologize. I thought we were discussing the lines traveling across Miss Liberty. I agree that is a die crack the red arrows are pointing to.

 

The die crack is most visible after the one in the date, but it's there, in my opinion. Good eye, thanks for sharing.

 

Looks like a die crack to me. When in doubt, use a light from different angles, especially in hand. Generally, if it is a scratch, the reflection will be on the opposite side from the light source, since it is shining off the "back wall" of the ditch. If it is a raised die crack, it will reflect most on the same side as the light source, since it is reflecting off the "front wall" of the hump. Once in a while this can fool you, however, if a scratch has pushed up metal on one side, but there should be a "ditch" beside the "hump."

 

Scratch’s are incluse. Die cracks are raised. Given the shape and area of its in the coin it could be from a coin rolling machine. It’s also in a common area for die cracks to occur on Silver Dollars.