1917 wheatie cent what type of error is it? (photos)

ivan salis

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Feb 5, 2007
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got this 1917 wheat cent -- it appears to have mint damage -- its cracked on the front and thru to the rear --the rear has a missing chunk -- I know that there are there are known "doubling" die errors for the 1917 cent (plain / philly mint) --but this one appears to have cracked during the process -- the damage does not seem to be post mint to me but rather as part of the minting process its self. --what do you think?--if a mint error what type is it -- and what type of value range?
 

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ivan salis said:
got this 1917 wheat cent -- it appears to have mint damage -- its cracked on the front and thru to the rear --the rear has a missing chunk -- I know that there are there are known "doubling" die errors for the 1917 cent (plain / philly mint) --but this one appears to have cracked during the process -- the damage does not seem to be post mint to me but rather as part of the minting process its self. --what do you think?--if a mint error what type is it -- and what type of value range?

From what I can see, and it is hard to see with the smaller images, it doesn't look like a die crack but damage after the fact but once again, could be wrong, larger images or close ups would be better. Value on this depends if there are collectors out there who want it, plus the grade of the coin. I had two, 1929, 1910, with such damage but one was definitely caused somewhere else and the 1910 wasn't worth anything and I doubt yours is either, but before taking my opinion, I suggest asking in the coin section and\or a coin dealer to be certain.

Paul

EDIT: Just to ask, does the top crack go all the way through?
 

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I respectfully disagree. I believe this coin has been damaged after minting. It looks like it was struck with a small-blade screwdriver or other chisel-like object, causing the cracks seen. I'm not sure what the object at 9 reverse is. Could be something like a cud, but doesn't appear attached to the rim.
 

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where the die type crack is on the front is from the rim into lincoln bust area (the crack goes thru the coins whole body)-- and it matches up with the back area damage -- however the back section seems to have "blown out" leaving a nice gap in the rear---its like the sheet of metal that the coin was make of "broke up" as it was stamped-- and a bit of metal broke away from the rear and fell out of the coin --leaving the front cracked and the rear with a hole in it , where it blew out at .

the 1917 (plain / philly mint) is well known for its double die coins --thus they clearly were having die "issues" at the time.

I think this might have been a die "problem" coin that got out of the philly mint , much the same way the "doubled die" coins did. :wink:
 

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Couldn't it have been a planchet error rather than a die error?
 

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possible planchet error could be ( as in bad metal to stamp --cracked under "stamping" pressure or was not properly flat / had a bad spot in it )
 

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check into lamination errors before and after strike. They were relatively common in early lincolns and early nickles. siegfried schlagrule
 

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