SD-1c-2016-01 Split Die

Description

Cataloged as SD-1c-2016-01, this split die variety appears on a 2016-P Lincoln Shield Cent. A split die occurs when a crack propagates completely across the die face from one side to the other, effectively dividing the die into two or more segments. Unlike partial die cracks that terminate within the die field, a split die represents total structural failure — the die has fractured entirely, and the resulting segments can shift slightly relative to each other under striking pressure. Coins produced from a split die display a visible seam or raised line traversing the entire design, with design elements on either side of the break potentially showing minor misalignment where the die halves displaced. The catastrophic nature of this failure typically limits the number of coins struck before the die is pulled from service, making split die varieties scarcer than partial cracks or cuds. Philadelphia Mint, zinc-core copper-plated composition. The Shield Cent design by Lyndall Bass was in its seventh year of production in 2016. Cataloged and verified by Cuds on Coins.

Attribution History

• Cross reference: Split Die SD-1c-2016-01 02/14/2017.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References