1976 Atypical Die Clash ADC-25C-1976

Description

Recorded by the MadDieClashes attribution service as ADC-25c-1976(1776)-01, this variety documents a strong, unabraded die clash on a 1976 Bicentennial Washington quarter — one of three special dual-dated 1776-1976 designs issued to commemorate the nation's 200th anniversary. The original documentation notes that the strongest clash marks can be found in front of Washington's face and below his chin on the obverse, where transferred reverse design elements appear as faint incuse impressions in the open field area of John Flanagan's portrait. This specimen is recorded in the collection of Dean Kinest. The Bicentennial quarter's reverse, designed by Jack L. Ahr, depicts a colonial drummer with a victory torch encircled by thirteen stars — a departure from the standard heraldic eagle that creates a distinctive transferred imagery pattern different from normal-year quarter die clashes. The strong, unabraded classification indicates both that the clash impact was forceful enough to produce clearly defined transferred design elements and that the Mint did not polish the affected die surfaces before continuing production, preserving the full detail of the clash marks on subsequently struck coins. The concentration of the strongest marks in front of Washington's face and below his chin corresponds to the area where the drummer figure and surrounding design elements from Ahr's reverse would project during a direct die-to-die impact. Bicentennial quarters were struck during 1975 and 1976 (all dated 1776-1976), with combined Philadelphia and Denver production exceeding 1.6 billion coins — an enormous output that provided statistical opportunities for die clashing events. Collectors should examine the obverse field area from Washington's nose forward and beneath the chin under 5-10x magnification, looking for faint incuse outlines of the colonial drummer figure and adjacent reverse design elements.

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