1942-P Mercury Dime Massive Die Cracks?

I agree with Buddy...solder lines ...that's the 1st thing that came to my mind when I saw the picture. Can't think of what else it could be.

I don't agree with those being knife marks. Nor do I think it is a damaged die. My initial thought was silver solder as well, with the color matching up over time. However the solder would need to be 90% to be perfect uniform, especially circulated. Have you put a magnet to it?

My second thought, was how much the lines look to be that of a waffled coin gone wrong. I don't think the mint waffled back then, However they were extremely experimental in the 40's. Perhaps this was an early attempt?

Yes, and they grind them down to stubs.

I don't know why but when I look at that coin I am reminded of Wolverine from X-men

Must be Knife marks multiple experts here agree and I got a reply from Mike Diamond stating similar as well.

makes me want to do some knife graffiti coins to dump back into circulation

Yeah, I see that cut on the rim now. Very informative thread, thanks!

Mike Diamond has already identified it onanother thread as being cuts in the coin. I have also identified things like this coin several times and being made from cuts in the coin.



Dies have been cancelle/destroyed by several methods. In the old records they mentioned "by fire and sledge" which was done by heating the die in the runace to a high temperature and then either smashing the face with a sledge hammer or using the sledge to drive a chisel type tool into the die face. Ususally in a X fashion. They have also used grinding tools to cut a deep X in the face, or a cutting torch to melt the die face (seen on the 1968 proof dies that were sold for scrap) or the current method of grinding the entice face off the die. As far as I know they have never "waffled" dies, they do that to coins and not until the late 1990's.