I have circled two areas - any thoughts on 1) what the blob is between the columns and 2) why an uncirculated penny would have a crack in it?
I can't tell if it is a (die) crack or a scratch. If it is a die crack, the metal should be raised because when the coin is struck, the metal flows into the void. If it is a scratch on the coin, it should be recessed. The fact that a coin is uncirculated has nothing to do with the condition of the dies that are used to make them. There are literally millions of coins that are produced with die cracks because the dies are used to strike tens of thousands of coins under tons and tons of pressure before the dies are replaced. Chris
Chris please give me the link that indicates if a coin shows a crack that it always fills with metal. I know I'm not the sharpest tool in the box but I haven't found that one in 16 years. And as the op indicated a split. Oh I forgot that's not in your book of terminology. Chris I can show you plenty of coins that show surface fractures that according to your standards would not be considered a crack because they did not fill with metal. Another undocumented statement on your part. usmc60
When the Die with the crack strikes the blank Planchet, the metal flows into the crack resulting in a raised Die Break. It's not a crack on the coin. A crack on a coin (like a fissure) would be from a flawed Planchet. Or even a Lamination Crack which are 2 different issues.
paddyman98 If you go to any coin terminology definition your answer is exactly correct. But when it comes to surface fractures on a coin there can be a variety of reasons for that. (Example) the die itself could have a fracture. Which will be transferred to the planchet upon stamping, not large enough to fill with metal but adequate enough to transfer to the planchet. I'm sure in your collection you have some of these. I know I have several of these in my collection and will be collecting photos to come back at a later date. And paddyman98 And you're absolutely correct about lamination cracks. You're right about being two different issues. But sometimes it's hard to tell between the two. On the planchet I have observed two different kinds of fractures on a planchet. One is a fracture that's not big enough to be considered a crack I guess. The other one is a microfracture. Two words that I notice not used in coin terminology the way it should be used. usmc60
Yeah I kinda like that cent to. Die failure with a metal failure. Two four one. Now this next one I kinda like to. This one is all a die failure. The red arrows on this one indicate micro die cracks, not big enough for metal transfer. At the top of the hat in yellow indicates substantial die crack enough for metal to protrude. If I'm not mistaken this shows that you can have a fracture in a die and not have protruding metal. USMC60
This coin IS uncirculated. What you are seeing is some form of bag mark transfer not dirt. Here are the obverse and reverse of the coin. I have several examples like this of uncirculated coins pulled from the bag with this marking.
