Question on die crack

If a coin has a die crack does that make the coin have more value???

 

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Not generally. It depends on the prominence and effects of the die crack and whether cracks are normal for the coin or series. Some older coins are far more common with cracks than without.

 

It depends. Some people are into them. Some are not. I just bought a coin that had some neat die cracks on it that I otherwise would have passed on. I thought it added something to it being a late die state. I think they're neat.

 

Good answers - I don't think die cracks add a premium, plus some collectors think they lesson the value of the coin and the grade. Also on some of the older coins the die cracks are part of the diagnostics on the coin for the variety - and the variety drives the premium and the die crack is just part of that. On moderns die cracks are cool and people pay very small premiums for some of them, but they are not worth it in my opinion. Just look at all your pocket change and you will find some, especially the bust on washington quarters. Enjoy.

 

Personally, I love die cracks and cuds on early US coppers. I think they give the coin character...evidence of the tough times during which the coins were made.

Here's a coin I picked up a while back. I didn't need another 1866 IHP, but when I saw this one, I couldn't pass it up. My photography skills are lacking so I'm not sure if you can see all the detail, but this coin is riddled with die cracks which (imho) make it a GREAT coin! :thumb:

The reverse has two major cracks that run from the rim to the interior of the wreath, then back to the rim again. They're borderline cuds, rather than cracks.

The obverse has a variety of smaller cracks that run along the letters and back to the rim. There's die deterioration in the field above the headress, between "states" and "of".

The most interesting crack on the obverse (imo) is a verticle crack that runs from the bust, over the top of the "1", and to the rim. I'm afraid my pictures don't do this coin justice...it looks great "in hand".

 

Some people like toned coins, while others feel that toned coins are damaged coins. Value is determined by the collector base...if there are a lot of people that are attracted to uniquely toned coins, the prices will reflect that interest. The same is true for die cracks and doubled dies...it really depends on the amount of interest in the collector community.

Here's another example of a coin that I find appealling, but others very likely do not.
This is a very late die state quarter that has dramatic flow lines and an "orange peel" effect. This effect is unique to very late die state clad coinage. Again, my pictures really don't do this coin justice.

Some may think of this coin is ugly...but it's beautiful to me. I plan to waste a few bucks having it graded...it has almost no "after mint" damage. It'll be interesting to see how NGC grades it.

 

I have a 1861-0 that has a die crack in it and people told me it has more value???

 

I keep any and all die cracks, The ones that go rim to rim are the most desirable. Somewhere I have Illinois Quarters with a progression of a die crack from start to finish. I think there's only 2 or 3 missing...

 

OH that is a seated half

 

Sorry - but I don't think so. As I mentioned it is a diagnostic of that date - http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1104&Lot_No=2313. Read the auction - this is a SP64 coin and yours is a business strike. At least that is what I gather from this auction. Not an expert on the seated coinage.

 

I think you read it wrong maybe. I have taken the coin to Houston Tx and had a man look and grade it ( his name is Dick Osburn) And the coin is what I say it is , sorry. Hr Osburn said that is is a 1861-0 in au 58 , confederate die crack.

 

Would say generally no, Unless it really stands out as a rareity for that
And alike issues!!

 

Early coinage used much fewer dies than today...and damaged dies were used longer. Numismatists such as Sheldon, Breen, Newcomb, etc have published studies of early US coins that catalog die pairs and die states...to include the progression of die cracks/cuds, clashed dies, repolished or repunched dies, and other anomolies such as doubled profiles and rotated reverses.

They've documented the order in which various dies pairs were used and approximately how many pieces were struck with each. They know the source, condition, and delivery dates of the planchet stocks used for each group of coins. They've analyzed auction and sales data to determine the approximate number of surviving coins and their relative rarity ("R" values...the "Sheldon" scale).

It's works like these that help generate collector interest in die varieties...and, as a result, die cracks. In this case, the die crack can be used as an indication of the rarity of the piece. From that perspective, there can potentially be a significant premium placed on a particular die crack.

However, overall (and especially on modern coins) die cracks are an interesting feature that might help sell a coin to a certain class of collector (myself included), but generally won't elicit a premium. There's likely an even greater number of collectors that don't want any cracks on their coins.

 

Good Viewing on this thread

WoW. Some Good Viewing on this thread. ThanX folks.

My small die error collections is going to have to grow after these examples.

Keep it up!:eat:

 

Well you don't have to believe what heritage has posted on the 1861-O's. But the die crack is a diagnostic. You can also look at heritage to get an idea of what the coin is worth when graded AU-58 - between 300 to 400 graded. Take it for what it is.

 

I don't quite understand what you guys are arguing here but I also don't know if you quite understand what the guy meant by 'confederate' die crack.

I don't know all the details but it is known that when the Civil war started, the New Orleans mint was taken over and run by the confederacy for a brief time in 1861. For most coins that were made there that year, there is no way of verifying which ones were made by what side.

The half though (and maybe others) is thought to be able to be verified or be much more likely to have been made under the confederacy based on certain dies that were used including the die break.

That's why the die crack on this half may be much more significant than on other halves of the same year or even same mint. Some collectors enjoy the nastalgia of it being a coin produced by confederate employees and therefore would pay a premium for that identifying mark. This is a very unique circumstance with this coin.

I apologize if you already knew this.

 

Just wanted to add that the halves were produced there throughout 1861. So some 1861-O's were still produced by the Union while at a later time in the year, 1861-O halves were produced by the confederacy.

What I was formerly implying was that the dies and die cracks are thought to be identifiers today, of which ones were made by which side.

 

Difference only in wording - the die crack is a diagnostic for the date that shows it is genuine. The coin being genuine is what drives the premium. And probably a genuine coin without the die crack might have the higher premium - see the difference? THis is also true on some bust halves - the early die states without the cracks drive the true premium. Plus an early die state was probably minted while it LA was still part of the US. So I believe more were minted by the Confederatcy or Louisiana than while still under control of the US. It is just a matter of opinion.

PS - Just stating my humble opinion and not arguing at all.

 

Same here...didn't see anything about "Confederacy Crack" or date in the original post...just trying to answer the question asked.

I can see where a crack of this significance could elicit a hefty premium from the right group of collectors. :thumb:

 

To clarify my first answer, die cracks in general do not necessarily add value. The Confederate die crack on the 1861-O half is a notable and very specific exception; it very definitely adds value.

In case you're wondering, Dick Osburn is a specialist in Seated coinage and one of the real authorities out there. He knows what he's talking about. He's also very approachable if you ever have a chance to talk to him at a show.