DC-10c-2002P-01R Die Chip

Description

Cataloged as DC-10c-2002P-01R, this die chip variety appears on the reverse of the 2002 Philadelphia Roosevelt Dime — the first documented reverse die chip for this date and mint. A die chip occurs when a small fragment of the die surface breaks away, leaving a tiny void that fills with metal during striking and produces a raised bump on the finished coin. Unlike cuds, which involve the die rim, die chips can appear anywhere on the die face, affecting letters, design elements, or open field areas. The R suffix identifies this as a reverse occurrence, where the chip may appear on the torch, olive branch, oak branch, or lettering of John R. Sinnock's Roosevelt Dime reverse design. The Roosevelt Dime has been in continuous production since 1946, making it one of the longest-running designs in American coinage, and its familiar reverse elements provide consistent reference points for documenting die chip locations across decades. Die chips on dimes can be particularly challenging to attribute because the small planchet size means even minor damage produces proportionally significant raised areas relative to the coin's diameter.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Joel Narva
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References