CopperCoins die pages organize identification photography by die stage. Each stage documents a step in marker development on the die — scratches, cracks, chips, and other features that repeat on successive strikes. This guide explains stages, die state, image sets, and how captioned photos replace legacy marker lists.
Die stage vs. die state
These terms sound similar but measure different things:
| Term | What it measures | On the die page |
|---|---|---|
| Die stage | A step when identifying marks on the die change (new scratch, new crack, etc.). | Stage A, Stage B, … tabs with photos and captions. |
| Die state | Wear condition of the die when it struck coins (VEDS through VLDS). | Small wear code under a stage tab (EDS, MDS, LDS, …). |
Three marker stages (A → B → C) can develop while the die remains in the same die state. Stage drives new identification images; die state is context about wear.
Stage letters and order
- Stage A is usually the starting point when a VEDS or EDS coin is presented for attribution — pre-use marks on the die and the earliest documented marker set.
- Stage lettering will change only when something new appears on the die surface that would show on earlier or later strikes.
- Letters are re-assigned when a newly discovered development belongs between two existing stages so alphabetical order still matches chronology.
- Some dies have one stage; well-studied dies may reach Stage M or beyond.
Image sets on a stage tab
Each stage tab shows:
- Identification images — obverse, reverse, and close-ups tied to that stage.
- Captions — one checkpoint per image (what to look for at that photo).
- Stage notes — optional narrative from editors at the top of the tab.
- Coin credit — contributor who supplied the photographed coin, when listed.
Click any image to open the full-size viewer and move through the set with arrow keys.
Legacy marker lists vs. captioned images
During the v3 transition, some dies still show a legacy marker list (obverse/reverse bullet points) beside photos. Finished dies use captioned images only — each caption replaces what used to be a separate marker line.
Staff migrate dies in the admin CMS die-by-die. When caption work is complete for a die, the separate marker list disappears for that die.
Image set naming (files)
Catalog image files use the die number, stage letter, and sequence (for example stage C obverse vs. reverse). You do not need filenames to use the site — stages and captions on the die page are the public interface — but contributors uploading photos should match the die and stage already created in admin.
Where to see stages on the site
- Open any die from search or the Date Guide.
- Scroll to the Die stages section below the value guide.
- Click stage tabs to compare marker development over the life of the die.
For a full walkthrough of the summary row, values, and cross references, see How to read a die page.
Related help
- How to read a die page
- Design variety, die variety, and error
- Glossary — look up die stage, marker, die state
