SHD-10c-1940S-01 Shattered Die

Description

First and only shattered die variety cataloged for the 1940-S Mercury dime, SHD-10c-1940S-01 documents an advanced stage of die deterioration where multiple intersecting die cracks have propagated across the die face, creating a network of fracture lines that produce a web-like pattern of raised lines on struck coins. Adolph A. Weinman's Mercury dime design — more properly the Winged Liberty Head dime — features Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap on the obverse and a fasces flanked by olive branches on the reverse, and its intricate design elements provide numerous surfaces where shattered die cracks become visible. San Francisco struck approximately 21.56 million Mercury dimes in 1940, the fifth-to-last year of the design that would be replaced by John R. Sinnock's Roosevelt dime in 1946. A shattered die represents the terminal stage of die deterioration — beyond the single cracks that produce retained cuds or the isolated fractures of interior die breaks, a shattered die has developed multiple intersecting cracks that essentially fragment the die face into separate plates while the die remains mechanically functional enough to continue striking coins. The resulting web of raised lines on struck coins creates a distinctive and visually dramatic appearance that makes shattered die varieties among the most immediately recognizable error types without magnification. First cataloged on January 18, 2023, by the Cuds on Coins service with no cross-references, this variety's singular status for the 1940-S date suggests either that shattered dies were uncommon at San Francisco during this production period or that additional examples may await discovery and cataloging. Collectors encountering 1940-S Mercury dimes with an irregular network of raised lines crossing the design should examine the pattern for consistency and determine whether the lines radiate from a common stress point or represent independent fractures that subsequently intersected.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Greg Bowyer
• Cross reference number: none. 01/18/2023.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References