Was the 1955 Franklin Bugs Bunny error on proof, business strikes, or both? Haven't found an answer yet anywhere. Thanks!
I have never seen it on a proof, only business strikes. Everything you could possible want to know about the Bugs Bunny Franklin is covered in this extensive article I wrote: http://www.cointalk.com/t75485/
I agree I have never seen a 55 Proof with the Bugs Bunny DV but I have seen and owned 1954 MS-64 FBL with 55 Bugs Bunny DV www.cointalk.com/t44486/#post473426
It would have to be a very serious operator error for this occur on the coining presses used to mint the Franklin half dollar proofs. The knuckle joint allowed the hammer to strike the coin then index (pauses) to hammer it again before the anvil pushed the coin up for extraction. I'm not saying that clash dies don't happen with proof coinage, but with post WWII proofs the problem is sort of rare, besides, proof coins of that era were periodically inspected for collector quality, any clashed coins would have been quickly removed as would be the dies. Also, the press operator would have probably gotten a written reprimand for allowing the dies to enter a empty chamber. I will have to go and read that other article...I have two raw 55's with toofies. Happy Collecting
