My first die crack coin? Help?

I was looking at a Morgan Dollar I recently received as a gift and I noticed this crack but I don’t know anything about die cracks or VAMS or any of that stuff.

This is the first coin I’ve ever had where I suspected a die crack so I’m hoping I know enough to spot one.

Can someone with more experience let me know if this is a die crack?

Thanks!

 

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Yes, beautiful die cracks.

 

Nice find !

 

Yess!!! I applied everything I learned and that was like my first identification of something unique that I wasn’t told when I got the coin.

Just curious:

Do PCGS & NGC consider die-cracks as “damaged” or “details”?

Or do they label it in any way?

I know the coin isn’t worth the cost of sending it in but I’m just curious in the event I find one on another coin.

 

Thanks mate!

 

No, die cracks are not considered damage by anyone, really. When we refer to damage in this hobby, we're talking about something that happens after the coin is ejected from the press when it's struck. If the dies are cracked, the dies are cracked. This just gives us an easy way to identify die pairs via die studies that look at the different cracks, mint mark positions, and any other thing on the die that can be used to differentiate it from all the others.

TL;DR: Die cracks are not damage. They're pretty awesome, actually.

 

Oh whew! That’s good! It would suck if that counted as damage since that’s how the Mint issued it. Damaged.

This is why I enjoy looking at coins with the loupe. Each one has it’s own marks and story. They’re like snowflake. No two coins are alike.

 

It takes about 130-150 tons of pressure to fully strike a Morgan dollar, so die cracks are pretty common. No, they don't affect the grade. Yes, they are used to determine die states, but they are not used, in and of themselves, to assign VAM's.

If you think die cracks are cool, be on the lookout for an 1899-O with a crack that runs 360 degrees around the outside of the legend on the reverse.

 

@Gam3rBlake ...You need to take the plunge and try to identify the VAM. Go to the homepage of VAM World and read their introductory articles on vamming. Fair warning...it will get you hooked!…Spark

 

I would have liked to see full coin photos of both sides.

 

Good ID @Gam3rBlake. Keep on lookin'.

 

Please show the full coin and both sides. Nice find. I am interested in the date.

 

I understand your thought process re: die crack possibly being damage.
Because the actual “damage” is to the die itself, the coins struck from said dies are not considered damaged.
If you keep looking at other coins, you’ll also find evidence of damaged dies in coins exhibiting ‘die chips’ and/or ‘cuds’, where parts of the die are actually missing, and metal will flow into these areas while being struck, causing a raised area on the coin.

 

Great gift, you are very lucky indeed. Thanks for sharing the Morgan, I'm jealous!

 

here is a vam with some crack
1885 O VAM 25A

 

I have an 1882CC, 1883CC and a 1884CC Morgan that are all in Government holders that all have die cracks. I went to VAM World web site and found close representations of the cracks and the corresponding VAM numbers. Really added to my interest in the Morgan silver dollar series. Durning the COVID lock down, having something to do durning this time has kept me sane, (though my wife may think different). I have close to 200 Morgans and 50 Peace silver dollars and have spent a lot of time on VAM World.

 

Just curious:

Do PCGS & NGC consider die-cracks as “damaged” or “details”?

Or do they label it in any way?

As previously indicated, die cracks are not "damage" just the result of a damaged or failing die and generally referred to as mint errors (the mint didn't intend to the coin to leave the mint in that condition). If you want to see one of the more desirable Morgan VAM's, check out the 1888 O "Scar Face". The obverse die was literally falling apart before it was replaced.
Several of the TPG's will attribute the variety, usually for an additional fee. Both PCGS and NGC will attribute varieties but not all known. Good luck.

 

It’s a 1921-D graded MS63 by PCGS.

Nothing very rare at all. But still cool to me.

 

Nice that's a keeper. I wish it was mine.