CCL(T1)-10c-1974D-01

Ken Potter supplies the story surrounding this coin.

Our next coin is a 1974-D Roosevelt dime from Ron Ciampichini of Michigan. It sports a very rarely encountered error type known as a Multiple Clashed Die/Multiple Counter-Clash on the obverse and a Multiple Clashed Die on the reverse. In fact, this is the first coin I have ever seen with a Multiple Counter-Clash.

A clashed die occurs when a planchet fails to enter into the coining chamber during a press cycle resulting in the obverse and reverse dies smashing or clashing into each other. Outline areas of designs such as portraits, letters, etc., from the dies can be impressed into each other, (or just one side to the other), with the severity depending on the magnitude of the clash, number of times the dies clash, geometry of designs, etc.

In this case the dies clashed into each other so hard and so many times that the dies were actually jolted a bit in their holders allowing the clash marks to vary slightly in location or what errorists refer to as “multiple clash marks.” Even more interesting was the fact that the clash marks from the Denver Mintmark were impressed into the reverse encroaching into the lower left leg of first A of AMERICA so hard with a movement of the die(s) between clashes that the “Clashed Ds” themselves began to clash back to the obverse. The result is that we can see a series of “Extra D” mintmarks above and to the west of the normal D. A count shows that there are at least five “Extra D” images!

Strong outlines of Roosevelt’s head are clearly seen as multiple clash marks onto the reverse while portions of the reverse design are seen to a lesser degree clashed into the obverse.

Although interesting, the vast majority of die clashes traditionally hold very little interest amongst collectors unless they are very unusual or strong. This one falls into both categories!