Can anyone tell me what this is on this 71S Kennedy Half? Attached are photos of the error and a normal half, also 200 X of the error. Would this be a die gouge? Both of these halves are 71S DDO-009's. Thank You, Larry Nienaber
It appears that is what was left over from a Die Clash that was not ground or polish out but I cannot be totally certain! Frank
Brings up an interesting point - from what I just read today die clashes are not supposed to be able to happen anymore and haven't been for some time. According to what I read the mint installed systems back in 1960 that would instantly stop the presses if a planchet failed to feed - thus making die clashes impossible. Now - I had never heard this before. But then I am not an error or variety collector so there's no real reason I should have. But the source was Alan Herbert, and as a general rule he knows his stuff.
I know that my answer was absurd as there are no details from the Reverse that are remotely in the vicinity of where the marks (or whatever you want to call them) are located except for the Stars or even have the shape. They appear to be too large and sgnificant to be Die Gouges but who knows!!??? I would like to see the experts try to explain what they are and what caused them! Frank
Hi All, I know that die clashes still occur and are common. I've seen thousands of coins dated in the 1970's, 1980's, 1990's and 2000's that show evidence of die clashes. I've seen die clash details on all denominations of U.S. coins. I'm not sure about the reference to Alan's comment about clashes being a thing of the past. I hadn't heard that before. Also, I'm not sure what the marks are, they don't appear to be the result of a die clash. Thanks, Bill
I have seen a few, but not many, die clashes in the 70's Kennedy series. The marker for the 70D DDR-002, stage C is a die clash, reported by James Wiles. I am not convinced that the marks on the 71S are from a die clash. A clash on a proof coin doesn't seem very likely. Larry Nienaber
I'm leaning more towards die gouges. Taking two kennedy halfs I can't see a way to line them up such that a die clash would produce those marks in that location. If someone figures a way, let me know so I quit trying to puzzle it out
These lines could parallel scrape marks from a feeder finger. They certainly represent a kind of die damage. As far as die clash being a thing of the past, I have to disagree. I've seen some 2004 cents with dramatic clash marks.
