Strongest Die breakup I have ever seen

JRocco · Veteran Member

Here is a piece with a lot of character. This is a Papal Medal that has the most incredible example of a die break I could even imagine. These medals were not known to be cast (as some have suggested to me), but were indeed struck. This is, in fact a late 1700's early 1800's restrike. I have had one prominent Papal Medal expert verify that he thought this to be a known struck piece. He claims that they used the dies for these restrikes until they came apart in pieces and breaks like this are not unheard of, but this is the most extreme example he has ever seen.
With all that said, take a look at this monster of a piece. The die crack is so deep that it casts a huge shadow on the medal if I only use one light to show it.
SO.....bottom line- any thoughts on this one? Maybe it really is a cast piece???
P.S. I will add this beauty to the thread "Stuff I Love" because I do love this stuff.
This planchet is paper thin at the rims and bulges out in the center. Kinda like the bottom of a weebles wobble....

Dick · Expert Member

That is some break! Or better said breaks! My impression of a cast is that it is, (like sand), something soft, but firm tio give shape, and or form. As such, it would be next to impossoble for a sic, "die crack" to happem.
Consider this: The well known "cobs", were struck, rather than cast, in the early 1600's, and brfore, (as in the ancient coinage of Rome), and other places. I don't know anything about these Papal medals, and coinage, as I don't collect them. I am just stating an opinion, re the casting, or striking therof.
Dick

Topher · New Member

Wow! You could cut yourself with that die break!

Gabe · Senior Member

That is very, very impressive. Very cool find. Too bad you cant find stuff like that in US coins.

Are those die cracks common for that design type?

Bob P · Site Admin

Very nice! I am really surprised that there isn't a hunk of die missing. Imagine the cuds that one would make!

JRocco · Veteran Member

I can't see this die going much further than this. Some of these pieces have some serious cracks, but this is about as extreme an example as you will ever see.