I can't distinguish if that's a pattern on the left side of the memorial or not. Is it safe to assume the die breaks are going to have rough/sharp edges?
That would be an easy, most likely conclusion; however, the marks on the coin do not line up with a clash. There are also some depressions to go along with the raised marks on the memorial. Interesting coin. Area under the 3rd (raised) and over the 4th & 5th pillars (raised?) plus the field at the top left corner hold the answers. What do you say OP?
I want to be able to answer but I'm just not seeing it. I studied the top left field and getting nothing.
Never mind. Let's start on step one and make this simple. on the reverse at 3 O'clock, is there a raised blob or a small depression?
I repeat, "It doesn't look like a clash to me." It is mere speculation to guess that the position of the dies and the planchet might, and I stress "might", end up in such a way to possibly come close to creating a strike that looks like a clash, but I don't see it. Chris
Since the wide mark is raised on the coin, it must be damage to the die. However, this amount of damage should have been seen long ago and it would be extremely rare. I would send this coin to an error expert. I agree - NOT CLASH.
You should be asking the OP if the dies are rotated, before you tell him to send it away to an error expert ... https://www.cointalk.com/threads/1967-lincoln-cent-possible-clash-in-column.262897/ I don't think the OP knows what that is either ( rotated die ) ..
You ask him. Since the marks don't resemble anything on the obverse that indicate a clash from a rotated die WHY BOTHER?
Thank you guys for helping to try and figure this out. I was certain someone would have a definitive answer as to what it was, but in a way this makes it even more interesting. As far as a rotated die goes, I believe I know what this is. I flip every coin I look at to see if there are any rotation errors. (This coin isn't rotated AFAICT) I'm happy to post or contact someone to find out more.