2008-P New Mexico State Quarter - New DDR! 2008-P DDR-003 3r VIII Stage A Eds

Hard to tell from your images where the mark is, but here is an overlay. I couldn't use the mint's images for this coin cause they are no longer posted. But I scanned one and colorized it to show where the devices could touch. See if this helps. There is a clash that could affect the reverse that crosses a reverse design. See if that connects?

On the reverse image of my coin, there is a strong line that would intersect the area in question.

The mark on your coin would show the continued line in this area.

During die clashes the dies sometimes bounce making 1 and more lines on the die. They can also move in a different direction as well. So it appears to be a clash to me. Always good to get a second opinion.

Well guys a thought hit me today. Die clashes don't rise as much as the mark on the Chuckster's coin. So I'm back to die gouge. It will be interesting to see what Mr. Wiles thinks.

Just to clear something up...again,

A die chip will be a piece that chips out of the die along the edge of a device in a weak point of the design. A mark in the middle of a field area is not going to be a die chip.

Additionally, die chips almost never have perfectly straight edges.

What you have here is either a die gouge or some form of die damage. It is not a clash mark. A clash mark would be far closer to the field in relief, and would have other marks around it. Clashes don't only affect one small part of the field and go that deep.

I must say, when I am wrong, I am wrong.
I did not mean to give the apparent wrong advice, I thought I was correct, but, you see how wrong you can be!!