1879 penny.

[King Kenny]

I have just got this 1879 penny and I noticed a connecting spar on the O of ONE. I first thought it was a die crack, but it seems too wide for that. Any ideas?

[jelida]

Definitely a die crack. As metal is lost from the sides of the crack the flaw on the coin becomes steadily wider until the die breaks or is withdrawn from use.

Jerry

[King Kenny]

Thanks Jerry. That makes a lot of sense. I have not studied die cracks much, a lot to learn.

[Peckris 2]

15 hours ago, King Kenny said:

Thanks Jerry. That makes a lot of sense. I have not studied die cracks much, a lot to learn.

It's a very specialised area - I would guess that the vast majority of collectors aren’t especially interested, or see them negatively as a defect?

[King Kenny]

It is nice to know about these differences and fun to find one, but I don't have the urge to own them. Standard coins and recognised varieties are more to my level of collecting British copper and bronze coins, but I acknowledge your expertise in this field.