2011 Typical Die Clash TDC-1C-2011-01

Description

Documented by the MadDieClashes catalog as TDC-1c-2011-01, this Lincoln Shield Cent carries transferred design elements from a die clash event where the obverse and reverse dies struck each other without a planchet between them. On the obverse, parts of UN from UNUM on the reverse can be seen immediately in front of Lincoln's tie — incuse impressions left when the reverse die's raised lettering impacted the obverse die face. All other clash remnants have been abraded away during subsequent die maintenance, leaving only the most deeply transferred elements visible. On the reverse, a small portion of the underside of Lincoln's nose can be seen on the shield, transferred from the obverse die during the same impact event. The attribution notes suggest that if a pre-abraded example were found — struck before Mint personnel polished the die faces to remove clash marks — it would likely yield strong clash marks across a much wider area of both dies. The only surviving marker that might indicate an earlier die state is a die crack along the upper edge of the shield. Coin courtesy of Lynn Morace, whose specimen contributed to the MadDieClashes documentation. The Lincoln Shield Cent in 2011 was struck in copper-plated zinc composition weighing 2.50 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. Victor David Brenner designed the obverse Lincoln portrait, and the Union Shield reverse was designed by Lyndall Bass. Die clashes on Shield cents create distinctive transferred images because the shield's geometric grid pattern contrasts sharply with the portrait elements on the opposing die, making even partially abraded clash remnants identifiable to experienced collectors.

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