Die Clash

lucky2 · Veteran Member

Does anyone purposely look for Ghost die clashes on coins? I will center this around the 1959D Lincoln but I have seen them on a variety of coins. They are very slightly raised areas that many times can only be seen from one direction depending on the grain and the light. What confuses me is that these images are not in the correct position for a proper die clash. Example: I can see OF above the last 9 in 1959. Even if it was a rotated die clash the OF is too far away from the edge of the coin. At times I have even seen letters reversed or upsidedown as the top of the OF toward the center of the coin. Has anybody tried to do anything with these coins?
lucky2

coop · Expert Member

Lucky: I've seen a few of 1972-D Die clashed Cents pass through my hands. Most of the time you have to search for the clash marks one caught my eye though.
http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/coop49/1972D_die_clash_01.jpg
http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/coop49/1972D_die_clash_02.jpg
http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/coop49/1972D_die_clash_03.jpg
http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/coop49/1972D_die_clash_04.jpg
Most of the time the ones I've seen have been the clash mark behind the head. I've rarely seen letters, but anything is possible as I have not seen all coins. LOL I've thought about buying a prisioner Cent just for photographic purposes off Ebay, but never won one.

lucky2 · Veteran Member

Coop
Thanks but those are the ones you can see. What I am talking are the ones that are not there unless you turn the coin and catch the light just right and then you can just barly see it.
Example: I have an S mint mark on a 1967 Lincoln somewhere in my stock. Normal light you cannot see it but if you turn the light just right you can barly see it or I have a terrific imagination. Shocked

These ghost images are usually not that impressive but just recognizable images that most probably have to be made from some sort of clash either on or off the Die Press.
Robert

coop · Expert Member

Robert: Kind of like the Phantom D Cents from Philly. The right light is needed to see some of them. Most Cents you can see the outline or ghost image of Lincoln on the reverse and the hint of shape of the memorial. The die scratching to cover the clash doesn't always work. I've seen the polished die end up with Lincoln with no neck, throat, or other parts worn of the memorial missing. It kind of depends how deep the clash or how many times the die has clashed to have to fix the problem with polishing. Makes for interesting searching. Trying to figure out what happened. Sometimes you can never know for sure.

lucky2 · Veteran Member

Coop
That is exactly what I am talking about. I can't imagine what I am finding will ever be worth a pluged nickel but its fin to find and hassel Chuck amd Bob about them. Wink

lucky2

coppercoins · Site Admin

I personally have never really bothered with them, but I would imagine for many they would be fun to find. Since I go through so many coins, I concentrate on keeping the die varieties only...that's enough for me.

coop · Expert Member

The Die clashes I found while searching for varieties when I was still learning WHAT I was looking for. LOL You got to start somewhere.....

coop · Expert Member

I was looking up some information on Die clashed wheat Cent and couldn't find the coin I wanted to look at. While searching I discovered a few other coins I didn't know that I had. But I made some images to show the die clash on a 1943 Cent. Two different coins from two different dies. Enjoy.
http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/coop49/DieClash001.jpg
http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/coop49/DieClash002.jpg
The second image show a die crack on the Left wheat grains. I noticed it later that there was also a die crack on the right grains as well. Must have slapped the die shut pretty hard to cause that much damage. Of course they were using Steel planchets that year so die cracks are common on that 1943 Cents.

lucky2 · Veteran Member

Thanks Coop
So it looks like all I have is another die clash although interesting that it is on the same side of the coin that it started from. Is that a Brockage Die clash or something. Rolling Eyes

~lucky2

coop · Expert Member

Lucky: I'm not sure that what you have is a die clash. I'm still looking at the pattern of the top of the head and seeing if that goes beyond the Wheat stems. I need to do an over lay to check for certain. The die clash is incuse and your mark is not. So I'm still kicking around options yet. Could you post another image of the 7-9 o'clock postions of your coin to see what is there? I'm still thinking it is a die gouge at the current time, but maybe something in the next image(s) may help. Keep me posted.

lucky2 · Veteran Member

Coop I will see what i can do with a photo this afternoon. If it would be easier I can send you the coin to look at photograph and study.~lucky2

coop · Expert Member

Probably more photos should tell us what we need to know. If nothing is present in different areas it may just be a die douge. But lets see the photos first.

Gabe · Senior Member

I found once a full prison cent in the seat of a rental car. I still have it, and it looks pretty neat.

coop · Expert Member

Bage: Its still a prisoner... LOL

coop · Expert Member

I guess I checked for spelling except on the name... Sorry Gabe.