1960 Atypical Die Clash ADC-1c-1960(SD)-01

Description

Catalogued as ADC-1c-1960(SD)-01, this 1960 Philadelphia Lincoln cent represents the first documented Small Date issue from the Philadelphia Mint to exhibit an atypical die clash — a category distinct from the more common standard die clash in character and placement. The bottom of Lincoln's bust was clashed through the word STATES on the reverse. No reciprocal transfer of STATES letters is visible under Lincoln's bust; the expected mirror impression was obscured, likely through obverse die abrasion after the clash event. The 1960 Small Date is itself a significant variety, distinguished from the Large Date by numeral size and positioning. Philadelphia struck both Small Date and Large Date cents in 1960, with the Small Date appearing first that year. Atypical die clashes document clash configurations that fall outside the standard forward-and-reciprocal transfer pattern, and this coin's status as the first Philadelphia Small Date 1960 clash encountered in this configuration gives it particular reference significance within the ADC cataloguing system. This die can be identified by the die scratch seen under the word WE and the heavy die scratching seen in MERIC of AMERICA.

External References