Interior Die Breaks & Die Chips on US Coins

Interior Die Break Definition: (IDB) When a thick flake spalls off the interior of the die face it leaves a void we call an interior die break.  It appears on the coin as a featureless lump.  Unlike a cud, an interior die break has no direct connection to the design rim.  Interior die breaks are often connected to die cracks and sometimes straddle a split in the die face (split die).  When it is not connected to a die crack, it is called a freestanding interior die break. To be an Interior Die Break, the break must be larger than 4 square millimeters.

Die Chip Definition: (DC) A small piece (less than 4 square millimeters) that falls out of the die face and has no direct connection to the design rim.  The missing piece leaves a void in the die face into which coin metal flows.  As a result, the coin shows a featureless lump in the affected area.

Special Note

Die Chips are no longer listed on this site unless they are in an unusual location.

Effective January 2020 Die Chips will be listed as (DC). Any Die Chip that was listed before January 2020 has been changed from an Interior Die Break (IDB) to a Die Chip (DC)

Half Cent; 1793- 1857

Large Cent; 1793 – 1857

Small Cent; 1856-Present

Flying Eagle Cent; 1856-1858                                           

Indian Head Cent; (1859-1909)

Lincoln cent – Wheat rev. (1909-1958)     

Lincoln cent – Memorial rev. (1959-2008) 

Lincoln cent – Shield rev. (2010-Present)

Two Cent; 1864 – 1873

Three Cent; 1851 – 1899

Three cent silver (Trimes); 1851-1873                              

Three Cent Nickel; 1865-1889

Nickel; 1866- Present

Shield Nickel; 1866 – 1883                                            

Liberty Head Nickel; 1883-1913

 Indian Head or Buffalo Nickel; 1913 – 1938                 

Jefferson Nickel; 1938 – Present

Half Dime; 1794 – 1873

Dimes; 1796 – Present

Draped Bust Dime; 1796 – 1807                                     

Capped Bust Dime; 1809 – 1837

Liberty Seated Dime; 1837 – 1891                 

Barber or Liberty Head Dime; 1892 – 1916

Winged Liberty Head Dime; 1916 – 1945                      

Roosevelt Dime 1945 – Present                                   

Twenty Cent Piece; 1875 – 1878

Quarter Dollar; 1796 – Present

Draped Bust Quarter; 1796 – 1807                           

Capped Bust Quarter; 1815 – 1838

Liberty Seated Quarter; 1838 – 1891            

Barber or Liberty Head Quarter; 1892 – 1916

Standing Liberty Quarter; 1916 – 1930

Washington Quarter; 1932-1999

Washington (State & Terr.) Quarter; 1999 – 2009

Washington (America the Beautiful) Quarter; 2009 – 2021

Half Dollar; 1796 – Present

Draped Bust Half Dollar; 1796 – 1807  

Capped Bust Half Dollar; 1807 – 1836

Liberty Seated Half Dollar; 1839- 1891     

Barber or Liberty Head Half Dollar; 1892 – 1915

Liberty Walking Half Dollar; 1915 – 1947)                     

Franklin Half Dollar; 1948 – 1963

Kennedy Half Dollar; 1964 – Present

Dollar; 1796 – Present

Draped Bust Dollar; 1795 – 1804                              

Liberty Seated Dollar; 1840 – 1873

Trade Dollar; 1873 – 1885                                                       

Morgan Dollar; 1878 – 1921

Peace Dollar; 1921 – 1935                                      

Eisenhower Dollar; 1971 – 1978

Susan B. Anthony Dollar; 1979 – 1999                              

Sacagawea Dollar; 2000 – 2008

Presidential Dollar; 2007 – 2016                             

Native America Dollar; 2009 – Present

United States Gold Coins; 1796 – 1933

$1.00 Dollar Coin                        

$2.00 Dollar Coin                          

$2.50 Dollar Coin 

$3.00 Dollar Coin                                                                                

$5.00 Dollar Coin 

$10.00 Dollar Coin                                                                              

$20.00 Dollar Coin 

United States Commemorative Coins; 1893 – Present

United States Bullion Coins; 1986 – Present

Gold Coins                                                                            

Silver Coins

 United States Tokens

Hard Times Tokens; 1832 – 1844                                      

Civil War Tokens; 1862 – 1864

Store Card

Patriotic

Modern Tokens; 1900 – Present