SHD-1c-1865-01R Shattered Die, Atypical Die Clash

Description

Merging two dramatic die failure classifications — shattered die and atypical die clash —, SHD-1c-1865-01R documents one of the most dramatic die failure events in the three cent nickel series. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins with a documentation date of May 23, 2018, this variety was discovered on an 1865 issue, the first year of the three cent nickel series that ran from 1865 to 1889. A shattered die represents the terminal stage of die deterioration — the die has fractured so extensively that its entire surface is covered by a network of cracks, producing a coin whose surfaces are crisscrossed by raised crack lines. The concurrent atypical die clash classification indicates that the die also experienced a clash event that transferred design elements from the opposing die, and the catalog comment notes a die clash on both the reverse and obverse — meaning both dies received transferred impressions from their counterpart, a bilateral clash event. The combination of a fully shattered die with superimposed clash marks creates an exceptionally complex surface texture where structural failure lines and transferred design elements intermingle. The 1865 three cent nickel was produced at the Philadelphia Mint during the final months of the Civil War, when the denomination was introduced to replace the hoarded silver three cent piece in circulation.

Attribution History

• Discovered by tecc1 on ebay
• Cross reference: none. 05/23/2018.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References