Is This A Die Crack? 1881 Eagle.

Hi Bobby

Looks like a die crack to me !! and a nice long one !!

Rick

Woah definitely Die Crack!

Long one!
What does the grading companies say for Die Crack.

If you consider the way a coin is minted, the crack wouldn't show up on the tops of the letters; it would appear to connect them. If the crack is on the surface of the die in between the letters (which are recessed), it would appear to go under the letters when, in fact, it just connects them.

I'm very sure that this is a die crack and the metal is raised. I don't think a scratch would follow the curvature of the letters as closely as this does.

The 7/8 TF is considered a Morgan variety or VAM. This variety is created by a particular die marriage and certain diagnostics will remain the same for all of them. The same die that caused the 7/8 TF anomaly was probably also cracked all the way around. That is why it would be considered common for this particular coin.

Bust Half Dollars also have many die marriages and varieties. Many of these varieties can be attributed by the various die cracks evident. Many then go further and different varieties are created by the different die states and stages. (I'm still working on the difference between a die state and die stage.)

Hope this helps to clear it up a little for you.