Why are there so many die scratches on my coin?

[coop]

A die clash is when two dies close together without a planchet in between them. The result is a disfigurement of the dies happens. It may result in the outline of number/letters/details of the die on the other die. So rather than sending out coins with the die clashed marks, the mint scratches the marks with different means, but probably the most common is the steel brush. Leaving those long/short/light/med/heavy scratches in the fields of the die. When coins are struck after that the scratches in the die leave their marks on the next coins. Eventually the die scratches fade into the fields as the die is used for a long time. But what happens if a second die clash happens? Then you have another new pattern of scratches from that point on that show sometmes to seperate directions till they fade away. These scratches can be like finger prints identifing a die till the scratches fade way from constant use or more die scratches are added on top of the older ones. You might have faded die scratches in one direction and new ones in another direction.

Can you see the areas where die clashes remain for a longer time and wonder what causes the scratches in certain areas of the fields?

Obverse: Throat, West of date, at the neck, the BIE is cause by the two dies hitting hard and breaking the die. You can see the right wheat grains hit the area between B & E, thus causing the break. The scratches you find in the fields are the result of the cleaning to remove these die clash marks.

Reverse:The classic area of the C of CENT, through UNITED, Line between the wheat stems, The area around the NT on CENT. When you see how the dies touch together the fields are affected and treated to cover this clash. So now when you look at the scratches you will know what caused the marks you are seeing. So by viewing the BE on LIBERTY you can see why there are more "BIE" Cents in the Wheat Cents than in the memorial ones.
You have heard of the jail house Cent. To appreciate what causes that the next overlay will show that.

You see die scratches in caertain areas of memorials also. The main one noticed is the one behind the head on the obverse and also the one through the date. But will images you can see other areas that are targets of die clashing and why these would be loaded with die scratches.
Obverse:

While taking images of coins for the site, I noticed a pattern developing and now I can see why there are scratches in certain areas of the coin.
Reverse:

On the reverse the most common areas for die scratches you often see the upper right roof sometimes worn from the roof into the field. The die scratches through ONE CENT (Outline of the top of the head), the faded image in bay # 3. Part of the back of head and neck is an area that get hit hard just as on the wheat reverse.
So you may not have known there was a reason for die scratches on your coins, but illustrations help add to that backround knowledge.
On Indian Head Cents this image will help you know where to look for clash marks and why scratches in the die is used to cover this clash mark.

[GarryN]

Really neat photos, Coop

[lucky2]

Coop, Beautiful photos and wonderful explanation of clashed die images. That however is not what i am talking about and i have cancled out the shadows reflections and multi light sources as well. What i am reffering to is images like the memorial turned sideways and butting up against the rim above Liberty, (just in the field above) or part of unum correct reading most anywhere in the field. I can see varieous numbers and letters in areas of mint mark removal. Some of these images I can photograph and some I can't. For correct reading images it seems that the Hub would have been clashed somehow but that still does not satisfy me as to how these images end up in such odd places. Have ing paid more attention to this lately than normal let me ask you this. Not knowing the chemicals used in minting is it possible for coins dumped in a pile to transfer images from one to another. This is the only explanation I can come up with and would also explain larger font images as from nickels and quarters onto cents. This would not necessarly have to happen in the mint but in the jar or can where john Doe throws his pocket change and leaves it for years. I probably make no cents (LOL) but I am open to your opinions and discussion.~lucky2

[coppercoins]

Another explanation would be that when the dies start to wear out the design can begin to wear on the other die even without a clash. It happens because of the pressure of striking a million coins into the die. What the result looks like is a very subtle, washed out indention of the opposite design on the die. If you're uncertain as to what I mean, there are a few years of cents you can look for to see this in action. Most of the cents from 1921-1928 show this effect if the reverse is worn out. When you tilt the coin into the light just right you can see that Lincoln's bust area will show as a smooth indention on the reverse. Another year group where this happens is 1966-1968 when the obverse master design was in high relief and was coming to the end of its life - the cent was redesigned in 1969.

Overall a great description and nice photos of how clashes happen. I think adding on the effect the design plays on worn dies is also an important factor in how the obverse ends up on the reverse and vice versa.

As a post script, the worn die effect of design transfer is usually not polished out of the dies because they are not only worn and nearling the end of their life anyway, but that the depression left on the die is usually too deep to polish away without affecting the design that's supposed to be there.

[coop]

Lucky2: Not sure what you are reffering in to yet. You mentioned a squashing of the letters. Well a couple of thing could cause that. One a capped die with a Cent stuck on the upper or lower die. First image:


Or an after market visit to the vise with a few others added to make another image on the coin. Sold on Ebay. I asked the seller if I could use the image on this vise squeezed Cent. He never answered back. Poor buyer



Not that the squeezing always leaves a reversed imprint, other wise a mirror image on the coin. The letters will look backward. When you post some images we might be able to tell more.

[coop]

So I guess the next question to ask would be, what effect do the dies suffer from die clashing, over cleaning and die deteriation? Consider a few examples that I've run into that I have set aside as educational pieces.
Obverse:
http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/coop49/Die_Clash_Effects-OBV.jpg
Reverse:
http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/coop49/Die_Clash_Effects-REV.jpg
I decided to enter this as a tag rather than inside the post. More images just make the opening time slower on my dinosaur computer and IP with the Phoneline hook up.

[Dick]

Coop, I recognize a lot of my pet pieces, in your series of photos, and I guess I am not so out of touch with the world, collecting those things! I have a real nice die clash, that the only place it is noted, is the "E" in one, sitting upside down , and just barely showing from Abe's coat. Wheat cent, by the way. I will show it, along with a bunch of other items, in the near future. Things are begining to come together, here. Please be patient a while longer. Hope everyone had a nice weekend! Dick