I certainly agree with PeteB's thought on no
crack being better but I also believe that we have to apply a little common sense on such matters before deciding just how much to discount a coin because of any fault - cracks included. Some coin
types are easily available by the fistful in perfect condition so one with a
crack would sell for quite a
bit less. On the other hand if a coin is one that people seek for decade and feel lucky to find any example, a minor
crack would mean absolutely nothing to a throng of willing buyers. Some coins were made carefully with round flans while others were struck quickly and carelessly so any coin lacking a fault like a
crack might even be suspect of being a
fake. Coins struck hard are more likely to be cracked than those hit softly but which would be better: a
sharp and detailed strike with
crack or soft, partly flat strike on a smooth edged
flan? Your question can not be answered with concrete guidelines. Some buyers will avoid a cracked coin at any cost while others don't care in the least. The
price realized depends on which group of buyers shows up at any given sale. Rarely do we see two coins being sold
side by
side with no difference save one being cracked so it will be hard to prove which factors played major roles and which were hardly worth noting.
