1998 (P) Jefferson Nickel - RRDC-5c-1998P-01R Bisecting Rim to Rim Die Crack

Description

Documented by the Cuds on Coins reference catalog and cross-referenced as JCn-1998-02 (dated September 6, 2016), this 1998-P Jefferson Nickel features a bisecting rim-to-rim die crack on its reverse die — a crack that extends completely across the die face from one edge to the other, dividing the reverse design into two halves. Bisecting die cracks represent an advanced stage of die failure where a fracture has propagated entirely through the die rather than terminating before reaching the opposite rim, creating a continuous raised line across the full diameter of the struck coin. This is a more severe structural failure than typical partial die cracks, which originate at stress points and extend partway across the die before stopping. The JCn cross-reference connects this variety to the Jefferson Cent/Nickel file system used by specialists in the die crack and cud collecting community, providing an alternative catalog pathway for attribution. The Jefferson Nickel was designed by Felix Schlag, with the obverse depicting Thomas Jefferson's portrait and the reverse showing his Monticello estate. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1998 in 75% copper and 25% nickel at 5.00 grams with a 21.21 mm diameter, the 1998-P had substantial mintage levels typical of the pre-Westward Journey design era. The complete rim-to-rim path of this crack documents the die's full mechanical failure, as the fracture traversed the entire working surface under the repeated impact loads of high-speed coining operations. Collectors of die crack varieties particularly prize bisecting examples because the full-diameter crack provides a dramatic visual feature that is immediately apparent without magnification.

Cross References

• Cross reference: JCn-1998-02. 09/06/2016.

External References