How are Die Clashes Formed?
rkp
Posts: 444 ✭✭✭
I understand that when a planchet is not fed, depending on the spacing dies may clash. My question is since the devices are incuse/sunken, how can dies impart their design elements on each other even if the dies come into contact with great force. Wouldn't the dies end up being grossly warped and unusable if they resulted in clash marks?
I can understand die clashes in the case of $2.50/$5.00 Indians where the devices are convex on the dies, if there is a mismatch in denomination size, or if one die is badly cracked/broken and protrudes out.
I would appreciate it if someone could offer some insight, thanks!
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The design is imparted the same way it is on a planchet, metal flows under the pressure of the strike. The impact is at the areas of highest relief on the die, which corresponds to the areas of lowest relief on a struck coin. Because the design from the clash is raised on the die face, it will be incuse on any coins struck by that die.
Here is a (lousy picture of a) strong die clash on a nickel three cent piece that illustrates the above:
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
Dies are hardened prior to use so the distortion/deformation is minimal at striking pressures.
I agree with Sean... and wanted to say nice multi-error Trickle with a heavy clash!
Good information and pictorial example. Die clashes are interesting (to me), but not a collecting interest. Cheers, RickO
dies have generally been slightly dome shaped. they knew after blasting them together, with or without a flan between, the dies would compress over time. depending on the angle/tilt of the die(s), this can lead to some odd clashing. we can see some odd stuff happen with doubling/tripling etc as well, due to tilt, strength, angle etc.
we can have counter clashing as well and produces some odd and very confusing looking elements on coins.
Must coins are very slightly concave on their obverses and reverses. THis means that the dies are very slightly convex. If you were to look at the face of a die from the side, you would see the field of the die mounded upwards slightly until it suddenly drops off into the void that forms the head or some other part of the design.
That place where the field drops off into the void is one of the highest points on the face of the die. If the dies clash, that high area is going to contact a high area on the opposing die, unless of course it lines up with a void in that opposing die. Where field meets field, any void in die A is going to be slightly filled with die metal from die B struck up into it, and vice versa. The design transfers vary tremendously depending on the hardness of each die, the strength of the blow, etc.
As die A resumes striking planchets, that slightly raised metal on the die will leave a corresponding depression on the coins struck from it. Often this is a partial outline of a head, but it can be almost anything.
1857 1C Obverse Die Clash with Seated Half, Snow-9, FS-402
I think this one is interesting.
One of my favorite varieties. I was the one who figured out what it was.
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imo, all of the 1857 shenanigans dual-denomination clashers (and there are a handful) are interesting. i think it bled over into 1858 as well or at least one of the reverse dies anyway.
I’m glad that you did! I have two of them stuck in albums F to VF. Interesting that PCGS has graded less than 100 of these.
Mr_Spud
I think it would be interesting but difficult and expensive to make collecting them a goal.
About 20 years ago there was a collector I met on line who was doing a die state analysis of early half eagles. At the time I had an MS 1808 half eagle with significant die clash and had mentioned the coin in a post along with a picture. He sent me a PM to ask if he could "borrow" the coin to see it in hand and take high resolution photos of it for his die state analysis. Sure, no problem. I'll send the most expensive coin in my collection to someone I only know base on a few forum post. Well I did end up sending him the coin AFTER Beth Deister, former editor of Coin World, vouched for him. The coin was returned unharmed along with high resolution photos of it.
Nice
Thank you all for your input, in particular seanq and CaptHenway. This has been extremely educational for me, I really appreciate it!