1968-S Typical Die Clash TDC-1C-1968S-01

Description

Cataloged as TDC-1c-1968S-01, this 1968-S Lincoln Memorial cent exhibits a typical die clash — a manufacturing error that occurs when the obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet between them. When this happens, the incuse design of one die impresses itself into the face of the opposing die, and subsequent coins struck from the affected die pair carry faint transferred design elements from the wrong side. On this specimen, the clash manifests as memorial bay remnants visible below Lincoln's chin on the obverse, where the recessed architectural detail of the Lincoln Memorial reverse die has left its impression on the obverse die face. Typical die clashes are distinguished from atypical die clashes by their alignment: in a typical clash, the dies meet in their normal relative orientation, so the transferred elements appear in predictable locations based on the geometry of the opposing design. This minor clashed die variety was submitted by Louis Fan and attributed by MadDieClashes. Die clashes on the 1968-S cent document a moment in production when the planchet feed mechanism failed to deliver a blank between die cycles — an event that becomes more likely as production speeds increase. The San Francisco Mint in 1968 was producing both proof and business strike cents, and this clash occurred on a business strike die. Struck on a 3.11-gram, 19mm planchet of 95% copper and 5% zinc at the San Francisco Mint.

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