"Silly String" reverse die on an 1874 seated half

Barberian

I noticed this reverse on an 1874 WA Seated half in a SB auction recently. It looked so bizarre that I thought it was a counterfeit, but this was Stacks Bowers. The legend looks like a glue gun accident while the eagle's feathers and lower shield look to be riddled with worms.

1874 half Philly die marriages have not been described yet by Bill Bugert, so I checked other 1874's in Coin Facts to see if I could find another. Sure enough, I found another one, so this weird reverse die may be a legitimate US die, unless that die is in China. The coin otherwise looks genuine.

Is anyone here familiar with this reverse die and how it could look this way?

coastaljerseyguy

Severe die polishing? Almost looks like with a wire brush.

Barberian

The die line "worms" are all through the feathering on the wing and neck. The photos are large and can be enlarged to show how extensive the die markings are.

jacrispies

seatedlib3991

Never seen that before. Must be some kind of damage to the die. Can't see how the planchet would do that. Interesting. James

CaptHenway

Fascinating! Good catch.

LJenkins11

Interesting, and great eyesight. Just for sake of it I pulled out my 1874 just to check and sure enough I too have these die markers.

XF45

LJenkins11

The OP coin auction just closed and congrats if anyone here acquired it. Cool piece that I still cannot imagine how such an assault of the reverse occurred and then passed any quality control. I did see in The Complete Guide to Liberty Seated Half Dollars (1993) by Randy Wiley & Bill Bugert the following reference to it...

Barberian

Nice find! It's interesting that Bill Bugert noted this reverse die as well.

I didn't look at Wiley and Bugert (1993) because he lumps die marriages together and I'm interested in individual die marriages. One has to, though, for 74-91 Philly coins. Beistle may have some notes on this reverse die as well. I'll have to check the portal.