2010 Typical Die Clash TDC-1C-2010-02

Description

Cataloged by MadDieClashes as TDC-1C-2010-02, this typical die clash represents the second documented clash variety on the 2010 (P) Lincoln Shield cent — the inaugural year of Lyndall Bass's Union Shield reverse design that replaced the Lincoln Memorial reverse in 2010. Die clashing occurs when the obverse and reverse dies contact each other directly without an intervening planchet, transferring incuse impressions of each die's design onto the opposing die surface. On the Lincoln Shield cent, clashing can produce traces of V.D. Brenner's Lincoln portrait appearing in the shield area of the reverse, or shield elements and the ONE CENT inscription ghosting onto the obverse around Lincoln's bust. The "02" suffix indicates this is the second clash documented for the 2010 Philadelphia cent, suggesting multiple die pairs experienced clashing events during the production run. Philadelphia struck approximately 1.96 billion Shield cents in 2010, the first year of the new design, and the transition to a new reverse type may have contributed to press setup adjustments that increased the likelihood of misfeed-related clashes as operators familiarized themselves with the new die configurations. The Shield reverse design features horizontal and vertical lines within the shield that create a complex grid pattern, and clash impressions involving these fine parallel lines can produce distinctive geometric marks on the obverse that differ visually from the curved clash marks typical of earlier Lincoln cent reverse designs. The "typical" designation confirms the dies clashed in normal alignment. Collectors should examine both sides under angled fiber-optic illumination at 10-15x magnification, paying particular attention to open field areas on each side where transferred design elements are most readily visible against the smooth background. The Shield cent's bold central device on the reverse provides numerous fine details that can leave identifiable clash traces on the opposing obverse die.

External References