RRDC-10c-1837-01 Bisecting Rim to Rim Die Crack

Description

Spanning the full diameter of the die, this bisecting rim-to-rim die crack on the 1837 Seated Liberty Large Date Dime runs completely across the coin from one rim edge to the other, dividing the design into two halves. The 1837 dime holds special significance as the inaugural year of the Seated Liberty design — the first appearance of the seated figure of Liberty that would grace American dimes for over half a century through 1891. The Large Date variety features a noticeably larger date font compared to its Small Date counterpart also produced in 1837, and collectors distinguish the two by the relative size and spacing of the numerals. A bisecting crack of this magnitude indicates catastrophic die fatigue, where the fracture propagated from rim to rim through the die's interior rather than remaining confined to a localized area. Dies from the 1830s were produced using more primitive metallurgical techniques than later eras, making them more susceptible to through-cracking under striking pressure. This crack on the inaugural Seated Liberty Dime year provides early die failure documentation for the series. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Juan Aguerre
• Cross reference: none. 02/01/2014.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References