Fun With 1858's: My Poor Coin Has Issues

papeldog, yes on the leaf clash at IE and right of the E in DEI.

Here is a shot of the D in a later die state without the 'struck through' issue.

Also, a shot of the reverse from the same die pair, different coin. What do you think, Struck Through Grease or terminal die state?

okie, it's hard to tell from a photograph to be sure, but I think you are correct.

Having the coin in hand is certainly a benefit, but the question is not an easy one to answer.

The die looks to be in a state of collapse, but the cracking indicates a die state that is not as progressed as one documented by Rob Turner in his book 'The 1858 Cents of Provencial Canada'. This die has a bit further to go yet I think before it's terminal.

Okie, as you well know, collecting any given year by die and by die state can be an interesting study. Some of dies continued to hang on after significant cracking while others failed in spectacular fashion.

The obverse die that fourmack posted in this thread has what looks like a terminal crack at the C in VICTORIA yet it continued to produce coins for another couple of pairs of reverses before it finally gave up the ghost or was retired.

A challenging way to collect a given year is by variety and die state. You never know when you are done!

Hounddog Bill,

Interesting, All of this from pictures is difficult to say the least. It looks to me like the die cracking on your coin is a bit more progressed then mine, but not by much. The reverses are very similar, particularly in the weakness of strike of the beads L3-7 and L10-14.

Although I didn't post a full obverse, the one you posted has exactly the same bead weakness under GRATIA, REGINA and the CT in VICTORIA.

I have a couple more of this pair in much earlier die states that don't show any weakness in the beads whatsoever. Could well be we are looking at the end state of each die.

I wonder if anyone else has a late stage crack progression for this pair they would be willing to put up?

papledog, I agree with your 'not quite as far along' assessment. The die chip at the D in CANADA hasn't progressed much yet and the large crack into the field from L10 to the 8 and around the E is not well defined if it's present. The beads are stronger on both sides of the coin. This is similar to a couple I have in earlier die states.

Nice coin btw!

bosox, thank for posting that one, the clashes are tremendous!!

I think these are good examples of what a fresh clash looks like on both sides of your coin and then how clashes can fade with repeated striking of coins.

One of the fun aspects of clashes for me is the fact that they are not persistent over time. Up until the dies clash the coins don't exhibit one, then there is one, then it might fade over time after repeated coin strikes, maybe not, and they can be hard to find on worn coins. Fun to collect to be sure if you know where to look and for what.
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Your coins are always a knockout, Rob.

Thanks. There is an MS-64 RB out there in a PCGS holder from the same OA2/RA3 die pair, but not labeled as a full vine. It sold in an auction a few years ago. My MS-63RB I posted above was the better coin of the two, so I passed on it.

Here it is. It is a later die state.

https://coins.ha.com/itm/canada/wor...bnail-071515

The 64 very clearly shows the extensive cracking on the reverse. It's a bit further along than the weak coin I wondered if it was grease or terminal.

Thanks for posting that one. I agree with papledog, the 63 has much better eye appeal for sure.