1922 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent Unusual Die Crack (Reverse, Three Cracks)

Description

This 1922 (D) Lincoln Wheat cent displays three separate die cracks on the reverse. One runs from 2:00 inward to and through the wheat stalk, a second runs from 9:00 inward to and through the opposing stalk, and a third extends from 11:00 to the E in CENT. Three independent cracks radiating from different points on the rim indicate the reverse die had reached an advanced stage of fatigue, with fractures nucleating at multiple stress concentrations rather than propagating from a single origin. Denver was the only mint to strike cents in 1922, with a mintage of 7,160,000 — the lowest of any Wheat cent business strike of the decade.