2013 $1 Obverse Die Cracks - McDuck's Quack Revisited

[Unicorn]

Thought this might make a reasonable thread.

but also a jagged crack from the rear tip of HM's neck to the heel of the L. I've never seen one in this location that was longer than a couple of mm.

Going on from the original procrastination picture ......

All 2013 MOR's

Number 1: Early heading towards right corner of E



Number 2: Downward curve to middle of upright of L



Number 3: S'ish curve to middle of upright of L



Number 4: Upward curve to left downstroke of L



Number 5: Slight upward curve to left corner of L



Number 6: Curved line heading between E and L



Number 7: Straight line to left corder of L





This has happened before .... a couple of examples:

2011 MOR



2011 CHOGM

[Fulvio]

This has happened before .... a couple of examples:

Yes, but notice how they're nowhere near as pronounced?

So what changed all of a sudden? Not only do we get bigger cracks, but we get a bunch of dies breaking around the same spot. One would assume the obverse dies don't change at all apart from the year, no?

Great pics BTW.

[Unicorn]

Thanks McDuck, they would have to be one of the hardest things I've tried to take a photo of.

I agree, no where near as pronounced in the previous years to the point I was totally oblivious to their existence before you mentioned it.

I wonder are they using a greater strike pressure?

[Fulvio]

I wonder are they using a greater strike pressure?

Anything's possible I guess... but I can't say the coins look any better struck than other years. And you would think somebody would notice they broke at least six dies, and do something about it, no?

*shrug*

Both ends of the neck on all denominations are susceptible to these cracks but they're usually really really minor and hard to see, and I suspect go unnoticed by the mint as well as us. Might be worth someone who's 'plugged in' asking their contacts about it maybe.

[Unicorn]

Two more 2013 die cracks

Number 8: Slight downward curve to left corner of L



Number 9: Straight line to right corner of E (might be a continuation of Number 1 die crack).

[ausjack]

Niiice, Gee Uni you'll be up there with Nevol the way ya goin mate :good:

[Robster]

Nice images Uni. Seems like the pressure from Queens neck (high relief) to flat area might be one cause.?? :scratch_one-s_head:

[Unicorn]

Number 10: Straight line towards the innermost top of the right base of the E extending almost to the E itself, but then curving to the right, past the lower right base of the E then curving back to the left directly into the bottom right corner of the E.

Oh and there's a cud on the base of the Queen's bust, just above the B in IRB!! :yahoo:

[Unicorn]

Number 11:

An upward curved line heading between the E and L then curving off towards the left of the L although not reaching it.

BUT WAIT! There's more ....... this time another cud on the base of the Queen's bust ..... but between the R and B (of IRB). :yahoo:

[Robster]

Good work Columbo.! :angel:

[Unicorn]

:laugh2: ..... thanks Robster!

[Pedro]

Looks like you've got them all covered Uni! There can't be any more can there ... ?

Pedro

[Unicorn]

Number 12:

Quite likely a continuation of Number 1 but interesting that it hasn't gone towards the E or the L.

[Unicorn]

Woo Hoo ..... Number 13 .... (Had this one sitting at the top of my desk for a while).

Although it's just the start of the die crack, it's heading in a new direction compared to the previous 12.

[NZCoinerrors]

Awesome nice work Unicorn.  Does the RAM release info on how many dies were used ?  

I wonder what it is with this portrait design as it seems to happen on almost all New Zealand coins since 1999 also