PART IV. Die Errors:

Retained Interior Die Breaks: 

Freestanding

Definition: Defined as an area of the die that has become detached but is still retained in the die.

Lincoln cent dies of the middle through late 1950’s were prone to cracking around the top of Lincoln’s head.

In the specimen below, there are a number of die cracks that extend from the raised island of metal and end blindly. Since none of the cracks reach the rim, the island of metal they radiate from is considered a freestanding retained interior die break. Another retained interior die break is forming to the southeast, creating an elevation that resembles a loose skin flap.