RRDC-1c-1961D-01 Bisecting Rim to Rim Die Crack

Description

Cataloged by Cuds on Coins as RRDC-1c-1961D-01, this bisecting rim to rim die crack on the 1961-D Lincoln Memorial Cent is a variety defined by a die crack that extends completely across the coin’s surface from one edge of the rim to the opposite edge. A bisecting rim to rim die crack (RRDC) differs from ordinary die cracks in both its extent and its visual impact: while most die cracks are localized features affecting a small portion of the design, an RRDC traverses the entire diameter of the die face, creating a visible line that divides the coin into two halves. These full-span cracks develop when accumulated metal fatigue in the die steel reaches a critical threshold, allowing a fracture to propagate completely across the die rather than terminating partway. On this variety, the rim to rim die crack appears on the reverse of the coin, cutting across the Lincoln Memorial design from one rim to the other. First documented on February 1, 2014, no cross-references to other attribution systems are currently known. Reverse bisecting cracks on Lincoln Memorial cents often follow stress paths through the architectural elements of the Memorial building, as the columns, steps, and cornice details create areas of varying relief that influence how fractures propagate through the die steel. RRDC varieties are collected as a distinct category within the die crack family, with the full bisecting characteristic commanding more collector interest than partial cracks of comparable severity, owing to the dramatic visual effect of a crack that spans the coin’s entire face.

Attribution History

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

External References