Question regarding my 1909 S Lincoln Cent 1 1

[Mr.Bill347]

I was examining my 1909 S Lincoln cent making sure it was not a VDB, and I see what looks to be a die crack just above where the VDB would have been on the obverse. Can you guys take a look?

[Sandon]

   This appears to be an old scratch.

[Mr.Bill347]

Scratches are not usually jagged.

[powermad5000]

There is a lot of heavy scratches on the reverse. Even if that is a minor die crack, it wouldn't add any premium to the cent and is not a major feature.

[Henri Charriere]

Seriously, you have extensive lacerations between the bottom of the right wheat stalk and the rim -- with a sliver of metal overlaying the lower extremity of the stall, and you are mesmerized by both shadow and substance in the TZ.  I decree this to be an '09-S, missing VDB.

[Numisdoclaw]

Sandon is right. There is also no rule on how scratches form and travel. 

[Coinbuf]

It is not a die crack as that would be raised, this is incuse.   It is, as surmised by @Sandon likely an old toned over scratch, that makes the most sense as it is next to some damage.   The other possibility is a lamination fault, but I cannot definitively tell from the photos.

Edited August 9 by Coinbuf