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 Replies: 13 / Views: 734 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3262 Posts |
https://www.ebay.com/itm/374691642548This is a shabby 1798 Pointed 9 4 Vertical Lines dollar. Except for the giant reverse die crack from T to T it wouldn't have caught my eye. I can't find anything like it in the PCGS die varieties. There's also a projection on the bottom of the 8. Can someone identify the BB variety? I like big die cracks but this one is in pretty rough shape. "Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
01/07/2024 9:12 pm
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Valued Member
United States
57 Posts |
The variety of this bust dollar is BB-124, one of the most common 1798 varieties at an R2. The most noticeable die cracks on this one are at Star 12 on the obverse and below the olive stem on the reverse.
Where do you see a reverse die crack from T to T? I see damage there in the form of a deep scratch, but there does not appear to be a die crack there.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3262 Posts |
It looks like a crack to me. Maybe it's a planchet flaw? It goes under letters and the eagle's wing. I have a badly die cracked flowing hair half (Overton 110a) that looks similar. The cracks disappear under the stars and letters.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
01/07/2024 8:11 pm
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Valued Member
United States
57 Posts |
It could be a planchet flaw or something similar. I'm not familiar with them enough to know what's possible and what isn't, so it's hard to say without seeing the coin in hand. All I can say is that from a quick search of BB-124 I didn't come across other coins with the same feature.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3262 Posts |
The die cracks get progressively worse. My cracked O-110a 1795 half dollar is very far gone, much like the ebay dollar. In the earlier states the crack is barely visible. In reading about the newly discovered 1798 BB-126, I found the following comment by Ron Guth regarding reverse die changes (in this case, using the same obverse on BB-103 and BB-109): "Perhaps, somewhere "out there" is a BB-109 exhibiting a sudden, massive reverse die failure." I looked through Heritage sales and couldn't find anything like it. "Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
01/07/2024 9:44 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7496 Posts |
I'm leaning more towards it being a planchette flaw versus it being a cracked die.
Interesting no matter what it is.
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5047 Posts |
It looks incuse for sure so probably not a crack, but it goes under letters and devices so probably not a scratch.  most plausibly a planchet flaw, though could theoretically be some kind of Retained Cud thing. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
33743 Posts |
Not the prettiest girl at the dance but she is genuine.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3262 Posts |
I'm still thinking it's a crack, but I'm not buying it to inspect. A big die crack does unusual things to the coin's appearance. The surface of the coin at the crack forms a ledge, higher on one side and lower on the other. I have a 1794 S-23 cent which has an obverse crack that runs directly underneath the bust. Liberty's cheek is raised, making her look like she has the mumps. Photographs of the coin don't show this but it's easy to see in hand.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Valued Member
United States
88 Posts |
Interesting coin, despite the issues. I agree with the folks who are saying it's probably a planchet issue, as it's under the devices. And as noted, if it were a die crack, it would be raised. I will add a pro-tip in case someone's giving this coin (or any other) a serious look: a lot of ebay businesses also offer their wares on their own sites, and this company is no exception. In most cases, it's cheaper to buy direct because they save ebay fees. Here (link below) it is on their site, priced at $985 (if you pay by check), which feels nicer than $1066. Plus, they haven't enabled "make offer" on this ebay listing - but I'd bet that they'd at least consider an offer. https://www.executivecoin.com/produ...t-eye-appeal |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5336 Posts |
I can't see how it could be a die crack since it's incuse and runs under the devices. Perhaps struck through a wire?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
I think it's a scratch. It does lightly traverse the wing. It could be another light random scratch (of many on this coin) that happens to align, but I don't think so.  Another scratch originates at the same point with similar characteristics. I've seen this behavior elsewhere, where the scratcher does it again starting at the same point.  I don't know why it skips over the devices. I think the metal is harder in those spots and they're raised, so evidence is more likely to wear off. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
Seller image for posterity.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3262 Posts |
A good bust dollar die break for comparison is 1799 BB-168, which crosses the entire reverse. It is not hidden by the features like some of them are. BB-168 is relatively plentiful.
The severe die breaks I own don't look incuse, but more like the edge of a cliff. Planchet metal doesn't fill the crack. The planchet is struck on higher and lower die surfaces at the break line.
Planchet cracks don't form lines of uniform depth. A deep planchet scratch might cause this, though this line wanders more than an ordinary scratch.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
01/11/2024 09:13 am
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Replies: 13 / Views: 734 |
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Posted 01/07/2024 8:00 pm
