1988 Type I Counter Clash CCLTI-1C-1988-02

Description

Residing in the Paul Argento collection, CCLTI-1C-1988-02 on the 1988 Philadelphia Lincoln Memorial cent displays a particularly instructive Type I counter clash resulting from dual die clash events where the two impacts occurred at slightly different rotational angles. The obverse shows strong rotated doubled clash marks — the doubling effect arises not from hub doubling during die manufacture but from the two separate clash events striking at marginally different die-to-die alignments. Two clash marks from the Memorial bays near the back of Lincoln's head demonstrate this doubling, as one clash event was tilted slightly more than the other, producing offset impressions of the same reverse design elements. On the reverse, marks from Lincoln's coat are visible within the Memorial bays, confirming the transfer of obverse design elements onto the reverse die. Most strikingly, the clash mark from bay 3 has been transferred back to the obverse as what appears to be an extra third column — a counter clash artifact where the reverse bay impression, carrying the shadow of a previously transferred obverse element, returns to the obverse in a new position. This multi-layered transfer sequence exemplifies why counter clashes fascinate specialist collectors: each layer of transferred imagery tells a chapter in the die's clash history. Struck at Philadelphia on copper-plated zinc planchets at 2.5 grams and 19mm. CCL(TI)-1c-1988-02 The images below of the obverse die show the strong, rotated, doubled clash marks.

External References