1955-D Atypical Die Clash ADC-1C-1955D-02-2

Description

Cataloged in the MadDieClashes reference as ADC-1c-1955D-02-2, this atypical die clash on a 1955-D Lincoln wheat cent documents an unusual collision between the obverse and reverse dies that occurred when no planchet was present between them. Standard die clashes produce predictable transferred design elements — traces of Lincoln's portrait on the wheat-stalk reverse, or vice versa — but atypical die clashes exhibit irregular or unexpected markings that deviate from the normal clash pattern, potentially caused by the die contact occurring at an abnormal angle, with debris between the dies, or with a cracked or damaged die face. Greg Bowyer submitted this coin for documentation. Denver struck Lincoln wheat cents in substantial quantities during the mid-1950s, though 1955-D production figures were lower than peak wartime levels. Note that the original MadDieClashes catalog description references "1975D" in its internal text, which appears to be a typographical error in the source catalog — the coin and its ADC designation clearly identify it as a 1955-D Lincoln wheat cent based on the coin's physical characteristics and the ADC numbering system. Atypical die clashes are among the more visually intriguing error varieties, as each one produces a unique pattern of transferred design elements that can require comparison against published reference images to properly identify and attribute.

External References