MDC-AU1c-1963-01

This 1963 Australia penny features both a conventional die clash and a radically misaligned die clash on the reverse face, which was struck by the hammer die.  At the time of the MAD clash the hammer die was horizontally misaligned 29% toward 7:00 and tilted strongly enough to pick up the anvil die’s denticles and both borders of its design rim.  As with most radical MAD clashes, the impact appears to have been relatively weak.

The obverse (anvil) die has no clash marks.  This means it was either switched-out before this coin was struck or the clash marks were intentionally abraded.  Since there are no die scratches, loss of low-lying design areas, or attenuation of fine details, I suspect the original clashed obverse die was removed from service.

I can’t determine whether the MAD clash preceded or followed-upon the conventional clash.  But their co-occurrence suggests that both are the product of a spontaneous press malfunction.

Mike Diamond

 

The above overlay shows the approximate location of the dies when they met for the conventional die clash event

The overlay above shows the approximate position of the dies when they clashed during the radical misaligned die clash event.

The above image shows the clash mark formed by the field and the edge of Queen Elizabeth’s forehead and nose.

The above image shows the clash marked formed by the edge of the die and the denticles.