Good evening gentlemen, (and ladies - if any are reading this.) I found this 1958 "D" LWC while going through a few rolls of coins that I got from my bank. As you can plainly see, the "9" and "5" in the date has been "bridged" but what I THINK is the top arc of the number "9". This "bridge is raised, to almost the height of the "normal" numbers in the date. I have only been collecting for only a couple of years, so my knowledge is very limited. (That's why I spend so much time reading on this, and other sites,...trying to learn.) This is a good test for me to see if any of this knowledge is actually sinking thru my thick skull. Please correct me with as much information, evidence or traits of the coin that illustrate or support your opinion. The knowledge is what I'm really after here. A diagnosis and value are secondary. Please excuse my photos. These are the best of the roughly 150 pictures that I took. I THINK, this coin was initially struck, then moved to the RIGHT / EAST, then restruck, resulting in the coin we see here. What gets me is, why don't I see evidence of the initial strike anywhere other than between the "9" and "5" in the date? The only other scenario I can imagine is somehow the top of a "9" broke off this, or some other die and somehow made a perfect indentation into the die between the two numbers, at exactly the same height as the other numbers and all of them in line with one another. (I would love to see the odds on that. (-: ) Help me please, before I loose my mind!!! (-: Closer view of Date and Mint Mark. Wider shot of Obverse, and now the Reverse. I don't see any signs of doubling on the reverse. (Or the Obverse, for that matter.) I want to thank you in advance for any and all knowledge that you may impart on me. It is greatly appreciated.
In the 50's, dies were often used to their exhaustion. What you are looking at is a business strike with a damaged die (chip/break between the numbers). This occurred quite often, so there isn't a real premium for your specimen. However, there are a number of folks who collect key breaks (e.g., BIE cents) and 'cracked sculls'. If you find a cent with a rim-to-rim die break, then you'll find a premium. Some of the more notable breaks/chips/cracks have been attributed, so those are the more desirable damaged tools/strikes to collect. 1922 was perhaps the most interesting of overused/damaged tools. Late stage dies became so over polished and filled that the 'D' on the minted coins vanished giving the appearance that some of the cents were minted in Philly (all cents were minted in Denver in that year). That might be the most sought die wear coin out there, along with the 1937 D 3-Legged Buffalo nickel. But there are other interesting, yet less valuable/notable die wear specimens like the 1955 Poorman's Doubleddie.
Outstanding!!!! Thank you. The learning continues. I have been in the automotive stamping business for almost 40 years and it never ceases to amaze me hoe a "break" can so many times look as if it's a design feature. I know the minting and stamping industries are different, but there are a lot of similarities too. Again, thank you guys. I now have another mental image of a new condition. Greatly appreciated.
Die breaks and chips come in all shapes and sizes and they can appear anywhere on the coin, usually in the weak area of the design.
