India 1908 1/12 Anna, with a few die cracks

[KurtS]

Here's a coin I like for its advanced state of die wear.
On the obverse, it appears the top right 1/4 of the die is about to break off.
How many individual die cracks can you find?

[Robert]

It's amazing the die held together for that strike.

It looks like ol' Eddie has X-ray vision.

[Dick]

Kurt, I may be wrong, but I see 7 different cracks on the obv. I did not check the rev very close. So how did it hold together this long? It couldn't have lasted much longer! I wonder if it was the Anvil die? Those I hang on to., large, or small.
Dick

[KurtS]

Dick, you found more than I did!

Here's a detail of the best part of this coin. Iit's easier to see how distorted "KING" in the legend has become, which I suspect may be from continued use with misalignment. Look at how flattened the denticles have become in this area. In-hand, it's plain to see that part of the die has been pushed slightly inward--definitely on its "last legs"

[GarryN]

Another great coin, Kurt

[Dick]

Kurt, I went back to the original photo, and on the rev, the crack end at k-2:30, is visible, also. I'm curious about the rim area, and denticles being so weak. Could a grease patch in that area cause an un-wqual pressure in that area, ( remember licuids don't compress), and leave the type configuration as you see? The rest of the design elements all seem to be well struck. Except for the crack at k-11:30 rev, it seems to be evenly struck. Opinion?
Dick

[Dick]

Kurt, I went back to the original photo, and on the rev, the crack end at k-9:30, is visible, also. I'm curious about the rim area, and denticles being so weak. Could a grease patch in that area cause an unequal pressure in that area, ( remember liquids don't compress), and leave the type configuration as you see? The rest of the design elements all seem to be well struck. Except for the crack at k-9:30 rev, it seems to be evenly struck. Closer inspection reveals a weakly struck area in the denticles, on the rev, as well Opinion?
Dick

[KurtS]

Dick,
Interesting thoughts.
I was just offering one explanation on the denticles, seeing how KING appears to be suffering from severe die deterioration I guessed that may explain the denticles? Here I would appreciate your opinions as a machinist. Let's say a die were ever slightly out of perpendicular to the opposing die. After 200,000 impressions, would the localized force more likely to produce a die failure in that area? I guess that's all I was wondering about.

[Dick]

kurt, I was theorizing from the satndpoint of grease being on the edge, and being the weakest, (my supposition), it would also affect it even moere id there is a crack, as in this case. I din't think a die could "be ever so little" out of perpendicular with the orther die, due to the physical shape.. ( Picture an old Apache Beer can, sitting on a coaster. You have a wide base, a tall cylinder, and a taper, ending in a small circle, projecting a short distance beyond. That is my impression od a die shape is. I may be wrong, {as usual}). I also thought if the ANVIL die is the portrait, and being on the bottom, any 'fracture would tend to be retain by the collar die, permitting ever so slight movement of the outer areas, (as in this case the 11:30, and 2:30 positions to vibrate due to, and under the pressure, and speed of the press(es). The thickest most part of the device, being the area of the head, and the edgees being the weakest, this would be possible. This would also cause the DDD effect seen on the word, "KING", even if the die was NOT in a late state. If that be the case, then the denticles could also receive the same treatment. What do you think?(If there are more "strange" words in this, I have been outside rewiring my telephone lines, and can't see)!
Dick

[KurtS]

Dick,
I have to admit I don't know what's tolerances were involved on dies and presses at this time, so that's pure speculation on my part. It may be a combination of die wear and dirt. Interesting how the missing denticles coincide with the broken die. And very intriguing thought about the collar retaining the obviously broken die! I don't know about UK die making, and which was the anvil die. I think I have info on Aussie coins which might shed light there.

[Dick]

Kurt, I don't know for sure, so I asked the world coins section on CCF, if the anvil die is typically the portrait. I suspect it is. Just a hunch.
Dick

[Dick]

Kurt, it was as I suspected. I asked, and was informed that it typically is the anvil die which makes the portraits of the Monarchs.
Dick

[KurtS]

Dick, that's sure interesting! Because that follows your theory of why this die held together as long as it did. I wonder if the same is true for Canada? I'll have to check, because I have a Canada 5c silver that's nearly split on the reverse:

[ikandiggit]

Kurt....can your pictures be anymore amazing?

[KurtS]

Thanks...I give credit to my nice Nikon macro lens.