1972-D Typical Die Clash TDC-1C-1972D-01

Description

Designated TDC-1C-1972D-01, this typical die clash variety on the 1972-D Lincoln Memorial cent was documented by the MadDieClashes attribution team as part of their systematic cataloging of clash-type errors across the Lincoln cent series. A typical die clash occurs when the obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet between them, transferring incuse impressions of each die's design onto the opposing die face — impressions that then appear as raised, out-of-place design elements on subsequently struck coins. On Lincoln Memorial cents, typical die clashes commonly manifest as portions of the Memorial building visible in the obverse field (transferred from the reverse die) and elements of Lincoln's portrait or inscriptions appearing in the reverse field (transferred from the obverse die). The Denver Mint's high-speed production environment in 1972 — striking hundreds of millions of cents — created numerous opportunities for planchet feed failures that allowed the dies to contact each other directly. While typical die clashes are the most common form of clash error and carry modest premiums compared to the dramatic floating die clash (FDC-1C-1972D-01) or counter clash (CCL(T1)-1c-1972D-01) documented for this same date, they serve an important role in die variety research by recording clash events that help establish die state chronology. The TDC-1C-1972D-01 catalog number identifies this as the first typical die clash variety specifically documented and assigned a formal designation for the 1972-D cent date within the MadDieClashes reference system.

External References