Posted 03/04/2020 2:10 pm
That should be early, middle and late die state. Die stage is something different. Die stages are often referred to with roman numerals, but sometimes they are also referred to as early, middle and late if a specific stage it not identified. (That can make it confusing) Unfortunately people tern to use the two terms interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.
Die state refers to the amount a wear the die has received as is a continium from when it is new and sharp until it is heavily worn and ready to be discarded. Technically every coin from a die pair is a different die state, but since these infinitesimal changes can't be identified they are grouped into the broader early, middle and late categories and often whether a coin is early, early/middle, middle, middle /late, late etc can sometimes be a matter of debate.
Die stages are discrete events that occure during the life of a die such as clashes, cracks, chips, breaks or polishings. This makes die stages much more objective. The coin was struck either before or after that discrete event.
Some dies go to pieces quickly. In a case like that you can have a coin that is a late die stage, but and early die state. A good example of this is 1796 S-117. This is a rare variety with around 3 to 45 pieces know, but it comes in 7 different die stages. The die never had a chance to wear.
Conversely it is also possible to have a die pair that never cracks, chips, clashes etc through its entire life. So event hough the die may become heavily worn (late die state), all the coins are from the early die stage.
Die state refers to the amount a wear the die has received as is a continium from when it is new and sharp until it is heavily worn and ready to be discarded. Technically every coin from a die pair is a different die state, but since these infinitesimal changes can't be identified they are grouped into the broader early, middle and late categories and often whether a coin is early, early/middle, middle, middle /late, late etc can sometimes be a matter of debate.
Die stages are discrete events that occure during the life of a die such as clashes, cracks, chips, breaks or polishings. This makes die stages much more objective. The coin was struck either before or after that discrete event.
Some dies go to pieces quickly. In a case like that you can have a coin that is a late die stage, but and early die state. A good example of this is 1796 S-117. This is a rare variety with around 3 to 45 pieces know, but it comes in 7 different die stages. The die never had a chance to wear.
Conversely it is also possible to have a die pair that never cracks, chips, clashes etc through its entire life. So event hough the die may become heavily worn (late die state), all the coins are from the early die stage.
