DC-25c-1979D-01R Die Chip

Description

Documented by Cuds on Coins as DC-25c-1979D-01R, this die chip variety on the 1979 Denver Mint Washington Quarter features die chips on the reverse — specifically on the eagle's head and right wing. Die chips occur when small pieces of the die surface fracture and break away, leaving tiny voids in the die face that produce raised bumps or blobs on the struck coin at the corresponding locations. The "01R" suffix indicates this is the first cataloged reverse die chip variety for the 1979-D quarter. The eagle's head and right wing locations place these chips in the central heraldic eagle design by John Flanagan, making them visible in a prominent area of the reverse where collectors can readily detect the raised anomalies under standard magnification. The accompanying notes specify "Reverse die chips on eagle's head and right wing," confirming both chip locations as part of the same die's deterioration pattern. No formal cross-reference numbers from other attribution services have been assigned. The Washington Quarter was designed by John Flanagan in 1932, struck at the Denver Mint in copper-nickel clad composition (outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a pure copper core), weighing 5.67 grams at 24.3 mm diameter with a reeded edge. The 1979-D quarter had a mintage of approximately 489.8 million — one of the higher production figures of the late 1970s — and the Denver Mint's extensive die usage meant individual dies could accumulate significant wear and deterioration. Die chips on the eagle's heraldic features create visual anomalies that are easy to spot once collectors know where to look — the eagle's head and wing feathers provide detailed reference geometry against which the smooth, featureless chip bumps stand in clear contrast. Multiple chips on the same die suggest the die steel was developing widespread fatigue or contained material imperfections that promoted localized fracturing.

External References