EDS Thru LDS Die Crack Or Gouge ?

Sure looks like it to me. Do you own that whole set? If so, it's a really neat little group to have in one place.

stmpcol - I would vote for a progressive Die Deterioration (chipping). This does not in my opinion look like a typical die crack, it seems to be in the wrong area for a "crack". As the chipping progresses from 1-4 so does the "orange peel" erosion effect near the rim. The die is getting pretty tired by # 4. It is not yet terminal state but with dies lasting a couple days at most - they do wear out FAST. In one hopper, you often get the results of a few matings. On the 4 pair presses you of course get 4 times that many.

A crack usually starts from a stress concentration point at a high point in the die and progresses - normally radially - or along a high feature to a secondary stress concentration point. In the case of a Washington 25 cent piece (pre-1998) most cracks started from a die HIGH point like the corner of the bust at the level of the field and go toward the rim. When this happens at both corners and the die breaks, you get a spectacular Cud that obliterates most or all of the date.

What I am seeing here is a progressive deterioration at a deep point in the die which forms a very interesting sequence in the life of the die.

When you get access to a box of coins directly from the mint (by way of one of the counting houses) you can often assemble a Die Deterioration series like that. Check the #4 coin against the #1 to see if you have the same reverse die. Whenever I go through a new box of coins, I always try to find a re-mating sequence. You isolate the coins made from one die and look for signs of die wear until the workers replace one or the other die. The mint often will replace only ONE die at a time. Every time they do - you can get a 1-A 1-B or 1-A, 2-A sequence. Of course, in a perfect world you might come up with the 1-A, 1-B, 2-B or a 1-A, 2-A, 2-B sequence. They are tough to spot, but if you have a lot of time on your hands it can definitely be done. I have.

By the way, 1,2 and A,B refer to Obverse and Reverse dies.

stmpcol - I would say based on your observations that you have spotted a die change.



If you had access to more coins from the same hopper - you might be able to establish a string of related dies.

When I did my quarter study when I was first sick in 1997 - I pieced together a 7 die string. It was my longest.

Of course this exercise only impresses people who love coins.

My wife and daughters think I am a NUT