What it is
A die crack on some 1999-P Delaware quarters runs from the horse's mouth, so the horse appears to be spitting.
How to identify it
- A thin raised line runs from the horse's mouth toward the rim.
- Philadelphia only.
- The line is raised, because it was a crack in the die.
A 5x to 10x loupe and good, angled light make the details much easier to see. For anything that looks genuine, a digital scale and a certified comparison coin help.
What gets mistaken for it
Scratches look similar but are cut into the coin.
The regular 1999-P coin
The variety appears on the 1999-P Delaware Quarter, which had a total mintage of 373,400,000. That figure counts the whole issue, so it does not tell you how many coins show the variety.
The first State quarter
The Delaware quarter was the first of the 50 State Quarters, released early in 1999, because Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution in 1787. Its reverse shows Caesar Rodney on horseback, remembering his overnight ride to Philadelphia in July 1776 to cast Delaware's deciding vote for independence.
Because the program was new and hugely popular, collectors examined the first coins closely. The Spitting Horse was one of the earliest varieties reported from the program and helped show the public that State quarters were worth checking.
How die cracks form
Dies are made of hardened steel and strike coins under great pressure. After many strikes, small cracks open in the die surface. Metal flows into a crack during striking, so the crack prints as a raised line on the coin. Cracks tend to grow as the die is used, so early coins from a cracked die show a short line while later coins show a longer one.
On the Delaware die the crack ran from the horse's mouth outward, creating the look of the horse spitting. The same crack on another part of the design would not have been noticed nearly as much.
A step-by-step check
Use a 5x loupe and a light shining across the coin. Find the horse's mouth on the reverse and follow the line from the mouth toward the rim. A die crack is thin, raised and often slightly irregular, with a jagged path rather than a perfectly straight one.
Tilt the coin. A raised line catches light along its top, while a scratch shows as a dark groove with metal pushed up at its edges. Then check the obverse for the P mint mark to the right of Washington's ponytail.
Look-alikes
Scratches, hairlines from cleaning and die polish lines are the usual false finds. Die polish lines are fine raised lines left when the die was polished. They are common, appear in groups and run in parallel rather than from the horse's mouth.
A Delaware quarter with a line from another part of the horse or rider is not this variety, even if it is a genuine die crack. Collectors attribute the Spitting Horse by where the crack starts.
Grades and preservation
Most Spitting Horse quarters were pulled from circulation or rolls. Collectors look for a full, clear crack with luster around it and few marks on the horse. Because the crack grew over the life of the die, coins with a long, bold line are preferred over those with a short or faint one.
How to search for the Spitting Horse
Sort 1999 Delaware quarters by mint mark and set the Denver coins aside. Turn each Philadelphia coin to the reverse and look at the horse's head with a 5x loupe. The line is easy to see once you know where it starts, so a roll can be checked in a few minutes. Keep any candidates in separate envelopes and recheck them later with a 10x loupe under a single light, which makes raised lines and scratches easier to tell apart.
Attribution
Some grading services attribute the Spitting Horse by name. It is well known among State quarter collectors. Ask for the variety to be noted when you submit. Keep a clear photo of the line with the coin's records.
Die cracks on other State quarters
Die cracks are common on State quarters and many have nicknames based on where they appear on the design. The Spitting Horse is among the earliest and best known. Collectors of the program also look for the 2004-D Wisconsin extra leaf and the 2005-P Minnesota doubled die reverse, which are die varieties rather than cracks.
Collecting die cracks is an inexpensive way to learn how dies age. Searching a roll of any State quarter design usually turns up a few. Comparing them shows how cracks start, grow and sometimes join together.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have a 1999-P Delaware "Spitting Horse" Quarter?
A thin raised line runs from the horse's mouth toward the rim. Philadelphia only. If your coin passes these checks, have it authenticated by PCGS or NGC before buying or selling.
Is the 1999-P Delaware "Spitting Horse" Quarter valuable?
Genuine examples sell for a premium over regular coins of the same date. The amount depends on how strong the variety is, the coin's condition and whether it is certified. Compare recent sold auction results for certified coins in the same grade.
What is a die crack?
As dies wear, they crack. Metal flows into the crack during striking, leaving a raised line on the coin. When a piece of the die breaks away at the rim, coins show a raised, featureless blob called a cud. Read more about die crack and die break (cud)s.
Do 1999-D Delaware quarters have the spitting horse?
No. The Spitting Horse comes from a Philadelphia die, so genuine examples carry the P mint mark.
Who is the rider on the Delaware quarter?
Caesar Rodney, who rode overnight to Philadelphia in July 1776 to vote for independence.