1960-D Atypical Die Clash ADC-1c-1960D(SD)-12

Description

Documented in the MadDieClashes catalog as ADC-1c-1960D(SD)-12, this 1960-D Small Date Lincoln Memorial Cent exhibits an atypical tilted die clash that transferred partial letters of the word STATES from the reverse die onto the obverse below Lincoln's bust. The original documentation explains that an overlay analysis shows the relative positioning of the dies when the clash occurred, revealing the angular offset between the two die faces at the moment of their unintended contact. A close-up examination of the clash marks demonstrates the dies' positioning at impact, including a notable line passing through the mint mark area — identified as the clash mark left by the bottom of the letters in AMERICA from the reverse die. This coin is recorded as being in the private collection of Bob Piazza, providing provenance documentation for the discovery specimen. The clash event is classified as "tilted" because the dies met at an angle rather than in their normal parallel orientation, causing the transferred design elements to appear shifted and distorted compared to a standard flat clash. The Lincoln Memorial Cent was struck at the Denver Mint in 1960 in 95% copper at 3.11 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter, and the Small Date designation places this on the scarcer of the two 1960-D date size varieties. Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse design and Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait create a specific clash geometry where the STATES and AMERICA lettering sits opposite the lower bust area on the obverse die, explaining the transfer location. Atypical die clashes differ from normal clashes because the angular misalignment produces transferred elements in unexpected positions relative to standard clash patterns.

External References