Unpacking the Mystery of a 1926 Wheat Cent Find
June 22, 2025My Exploration of the 1982-D Small Date Cent Weighing 3.09 Grams
June 22, 2025
I recently picked up a 2020 P dime that stopped me in my tracks – Roosevelt’s nose had what looked like a tiny wart. As someone who’s handled thousands of coins over the years, I thought I’d seen it all, but this little bump sent me on quite the investigation.
What Caught My Eye
Under my loupe, that raised area on Roosevelt’s nose wasn’t just damage. It had this distinct bulbous shape that reminded me of a BB pellet embedded in the design. I snapped some macro shots with basic contrast adjustments (no Photoshop tricks!) and realized this wasn’t surface damage or a planchet flaw – it was part of the strike itself.
Die Chip or Something More?
Turns out we’ve been using “die chip” too loosely for years. After checking my reference books and error-ref.com, I’m convinced this is actually an interior die break (IDB). Let’s clear up the confusion:
- Die Chips: Usually means tiny flaws from chipped dies, but it’s become a catch-all term that’s not very precise
- Interior Die Breaks (IDB): Happens when the die cracks internally, letting extra metal flow into the design during striking – totally different from rim cuds
- Why Precision Matters: Calling it an IDB instead of just a “chip” helps other collectors understand what they’re looking at and could affect value
That “nose bump”? I’m growing more certain by the day it’s a textbook IDB – maybe 75% sure when I started writing this, now closer to 90% after comparing notes with other collectors.
Tips for Your Own Finds
If you spot something unusual in your pocket change, here’s what I’ve learned:
- Magnification is Key: Get a good 10x loupe and check high-relief areas – faces, lettering, and devices often show these quirks best
- Trust the Experts: Sites like error-ref.com are gold mines for comparing your find against verified examples
- Grading Reality Check: While IDBs make coins more interesting, they rarely boost the grade significantly unless they’re dramatic. That said, this 2020 dime could fetch a small premium from error specialists
- Keep Searching: Modern error coins are surprisingly findable in circulation right now. I’ve had three collectors message me about similar marks on 2020 dimes since I started researching this!
Why This Dime Excites Me
What I love about this little dime is how it reminds us that even mass-produced coins can have personality. Was it a tiny piece of die that broke away? Some weird metal flow during striking? That mystery is half the fun. I’ll be checking every Roosevelt dime that crosses my palm from now on. If you spot something odd, grab your loupe and dig in – you might just have a fascinating error in your hand!
