Die Crack Or Scratch On 1999-S Lincoln Proof?

You'll need magnification, and the coin will need to come out of the slab (hopefully you won't mind ). Under 5-10x magnification, it should be plainly obvious that it's a scratch, if it is. If it's a die artifact, you might need more magnification to be absolutely sure that it's raised above the surface rather than cut into the surface, but chances are a scratch will be plainly cut in and brighter than the surrounding field.

The letters in LIBERTY should be especially helpful.

As far as I know a die crack will not be a gouge like a scarp or bag mark. See if you can get a picture because that would be invaluable in helping us determine what ya got.

I looked with a 10X loupe through the slab, it's hard to tell if it's a scratch or a die crack, especially since I wasn't sure what I was looking for. Not sure if it's raised or not. I'll try to post pix, but I'm working crazy 16 hour shifts today & tomorrow & it might take me a couple of days.

The ebay seller told me that he'd replace it if I sent it back. If it's a die crack, I'll keep it & try to sell on ebay. If it's a scratch, I'll return it. But if I crack open the slab, that option is obviously out.

So what your're saying is that the definitive difference is that a die crack will be raised?

CC,

It's sort of a straight line with a slight curve from near Lincoln's shoulder, all the way through the middle of the head to the top of the hairline. I thought that I had once seen something like this on the Net described as a "jerk" die crack error but I can't find it now. I forget on which denomination I saw this "jerk" error.

Graceoutcast,

I got another SGS coin from the seller, a modern Jefferson nickel ('90's or 2000's, sorry, I don't have the date at work with me), that was a Proof Cameo PR70, that had a mark about the size of a small ant right through the cameo on Jefferson's jaw! The seller said he'd replace both upon return. I was wondering how it got a PR70.

The other 8 coins were all Proof PR70 or MS70's. They all looked flawless but then again, I'm obviously not a grader. It's also hard to tell "flawless" through slabs. Sometimes, not sure what's on the coin & what's on the slab.

This is the very reason why any grading company besides the big 4 aren't very reputable. they overgrade and miss stuff. if it's a good die crack you could possible sell it for a few bucks either on here or ebay but I still would send all of those coins back if it were me.

but also this is my own opinion and I'd stick around for others.

To 99% of people it won't matter. There is some small market for die cracks on modern proofs, but even these people are beginning to realize their marketability is full of holes. A new discovery is made, someone pays $100 for it, then six months later when the hype is gone, nobody will give any premium for them. The trend is starting to catch on, and the last of the people are beginning to shy away at premiums for die cracks.

A better pic?