1960-D Atypical Die Clash ADC-1c-1960D(SD)-33

Description

Bearing the catalog designation ADC-1c-1960D(SD)-33, this 1960-D small date Lincoln Memorial Cent exhibits a radical tilted die clash where the transferred design elements pass through the letters TES of STATES on the reverse. The atypical nature of this clash derives from the significant rotational misalignment between the two dies at the moment of impact — rather than a standard centered clash where the dies meet in their normal striking orientation, this event occurred with one die tilted at a pronounced angle, projecting the transferred design across the reverse lettering at an oblique path. The obverse die does not display corresponding clash marks, which indicates either that the obverse die was changed out after the clash event or that it was abraded to remove the transferred reverse design elements before returning to production. This die clash event can be identified by correlating the position of the D mintmark relative to the date on the obverse die — a diagnostic that links the specific obverse die to the clashed reverse. Additional die deterioration includes a die chip in the upper loop of the S in PLURIBUS and a die break on the left arm of the T in CENT, documenting structural degradation beyond the clash damage itself. The Lincoln Memorial Cent was struck at the Denver Mint in 1960, the year that featured the famous small date and large date varieties. Composed of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, the coin weighs 3.11 grams with a diameter of 19.05 mm. Victor David Brenner designed the obverse and Frank Gasparro the Memorial reverse.

External References