What caused this?

Got this shield nickel and it has a bunch of spikes protruding out of the "5" and two of the upper stars, as well. Anyone know how this happened? It doesn't look like clashing, and I've never seen a bunch of short die breaks like this. Thanks for the help!

 

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Probably a die clash, that was partly effaced

 

So, maybe the shield lines from the obverse? Hmm. Interesting.

 

I vote for deteriorated die, I think they cover a larger area than the lines on the shield.

 

I'm with Frank on the clash, is the reverse is rotated, that would shore it up as the lines seem to be at an angle

 

The coin isn't rotated, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the dies didn't strike one another at a rotation without a blank in between. Do you suppose the dies could have clashed and then been realigned and continued to be used?

 

I do not feel that it's a die clash. The rotation, and it effects the stars too. The obv and rev do not seem to line up, as others have stated. The planchet must have had a problem before coining on one side.This could have been the problem.

 

I've seen this frequently on shield nickels from various dates. I think it it is the result of some heavy handed work done on the dies. It must have been done fairly early in the life of the die as the longacre doubling on the 5 and some of the stars is still strong.