Sunken die errors occur when a die’s surface deteriorates to such extent that it collapses, typically due to subpar planchets or hardening of those planchets, resulting in a recessed or “sunken” area on the die along with a raised portion of metal.
Let’s begin with showing how similar a sunken die is when compared with a heat damaged coin:
To tell the difference, look for that raised portion on the surface. Heat damaged coins have a bubble-like look from melting metal–a key distinction.
Also, die cracks often appear along the margin of a sunken die.
The opposite side of a sunken-die coin shows more of the design with tell-tale deformities depending on the severity of the die subsidence.
Let’s look at the reverse of the sunken die cent above:
The edge here is largely intact. Also, elements of the design are visible.
Heat damage can affect a coin’s service in several ways due high temperature. For instance, a coin melted in part in a house fire may look different from one exposed to a blow torch.
Look for discoloration of the metal ranging from rainbow patina to black or rust-like tone. The heat-damaged coin earlier has the tell-tale rainbow discoloration:
Also, check for edge damage appearing squeezed or distorted due to melting. Edges of sunken dies may have relatively damage-free appearance. If a clad coin, heat also can expose the different metals, often in patches.
In conclusion, here are key differences
- Origin: Sunken die errors occur during the minting process due to a flawed die, while heat damage occurs after the coin has been minted due to environmental factors.
- Nature of abnormality: Sunken die errors typically manifest as a raised area on the coin’s surface, exposing the sunken portion of the die. Heat damage can create a range of surface irregularities, discoloration, and deformation not associated with the die’s design.
- Context: If a coin exhibits a raised area that seems to be a part of the original design, but appears distorted or indistinct, it might be a sunken die error. If the coin shows signs of burning, melting, or discoloration, it’s more likely to be heat damage.
If you like posts like this, please subscribe so you can be informed whenever there is a new article or column.
Proxiblog also has thousands of followers on Facebook Coin Groups, YouTube and social media. To get the latest discussion and commentaries, click here.
You can find more information about errors and varieties as well as buying and bidding on coins in Coin News Updated: The Essential Guide to Online Bidding. Please consider purchasing the work for yourself or a friend, as it underwrites this hobbyist website. Thank you.
