I was looking at my seated halves today, and just noticed something that I believe to be a die clash on the reverse of one. It's a damaged (holed) coin unfortunately, so it's likely not worth anything, but once I noticed it, the error became very obvious. I think it's really neat, but want to make sure it's an actual error before grouping it with my error coins. It's in the shield on the reverse of this half, on the right lower portion. It appears to be a die clash of the indent below Liberty's elbow of the arm holding that flag/cap in her hand. What do you guys think?
Wow! I have this exact same coin! A coin dealer told me it's about AU50. Mines an 1876, so I'm assuming yours is the same date. I always thought it was a die break but I never considered that being her elbow. great find! I've been looking for another one of these for a long time.
heres mine. on second look it seems to be what i thought it was, a die break. the edges are too sharp to be her elbow.
Elbow of what? It couldn't be from the bust because there is no arm. It couldn't be from the eagle because it is on the same side of the coin as the mark. I seriously doubt that it is a clash. Both the obverse and reverse devices in that area are the deeper recesses of the dies, and it would probably shatter both dies before it would ever clash there. Chris
I'm thinking the OP coin is a seated half. coop, do you have an overlay? Mine never come out looking right.
Oh! Okay! Now I understand what you meant about the elbow, but it still doesn't line up and I still don't think it could have been a clash anyway, with or without the elbow. Nudge! Nudge! Chris
Except that the fields are the highest parts of the die and the white stripes of the shield and the area between Liberty's leg and arm are both at the level of the field. So in that location you do have the highest portion of each die opposite each other. When you consider that the die faces are very slightly convex that area will be the first points that come together during a die clash.
Thanks coop. Looks like the folds in the drapery between the led and arm are what is showing on the shield.