ADC-3c-1867-01

This is an atypical 1867 three cent piece that shows a die clash on the reverse die only. All photographs and text were provided by variety die specialist Billy Crawford.

I recently received an 1867 3c CN for examination and photography from Edward Fletcher of Florida.   Fletcher informed me his coin was an example of the 1867B03c as illustrated on page 167 of, The Ultimate Guide to U.S. Three Cent Nickels, 1865 to 1889 by Allan Gifford and described as, “The mirror image outline of the inside of the right bow loop and lower center right leaf edge from the reverse of the one dollar is clearly visible above the top of the ribbon and left inner leaves on the reverse. Additional remnants of clash outlines from the reverse of the One Dollar Gold coin are also visible throughout the reverse field.

My detailed examination of Fletcher’s coin reveals that the clash remnants in question exhibited on the reverse that are visible above the top of the ribbon and left inner leaves are not from a One Dollar Gold coin.  Those clashed remnants are from the obverse working die that was paired with this reverse working die on the production press with a severe rotation when the two dies impacted each other.

I have provided a full coin image overlay with the mirror image of the obverse rotated and superimposed as a transparency over the reverse.  As pointed out by the corresponding arrows, we can see the outline of the field that is located at the back of the neck area matches perfectly with the clashed remnants that are just above the ribbon on the reverse as well as the edge outline of the lower back of the hair perfectly matches to the left inner leaves on the reverse.  Additionally, the clash remnants that are visible in the field to the right of the third Roman numeral one also perfectly correspond to the front neck and throat outline.

The remaining photos are of Fletcher’s actual coin which provide a much closer view of the areas of concern and how the transparent overlay from the obverse mirror design perfectly correspond to the clashed outlines as we see in the full coin image overlay.

In summary, I am convinced that Fletcher’s coin is exhibiting only single-clashed remnants from the 1867 3c obverse working die that impacted and subsequently imparted its mirror design on the reverse working die with a severe rotation and is not from a One Dollar Gold coin clash.