Clashed Dies
By Jason Cuvelier

Here illustrated are examples of various Clashed Dies sometimes called Die Clashes. Coins showing Die Clashes are the result of two failures: the minimum die clearance being too low or absent altogether and a period where a planchet is not present in the striking chamber allowing the dies to strike each other one or more times. The result can be design transfer, from one die to the opposing die face or a transfer between both die faces. It has been stated that usually a Mint employee recognizes this (from a loud bang from the presses) and subsequently has the die or dies impacted polished to remove any clash marks. An interesting development occurs in that a coin can be minted with Clash Marks both before and after polishing.

The menu to the left shows various types and subtypes of Clashed Dies and link to some specific examples. This page directs specifically to either examples or files I maintain on significant Clashed Dies that display either:
A) normal design transfer; B) Chatter Clashed Dies; C) Rotated Clashed Dies. The files will be broken up by denomination, then any subtypes (e.g., design changes). Anything catalogued withing the files will be designated as ZCL and have die markers noted, anything else illustrated is an example only. Note: I am always looking for additional Clashed Die examples, email me if you have a major example I can borrow to photograph.