1865 Atypical Die Clash ADC-3C-1865-04

Description

Documented in the MadDieClashes catalog as ADC-3c-1865-04, this 1865 Nickel Three Cent Piece was brought to the catalog courtesy of Roy Greene Sr. and exhibits three distinct sets of die clash marks — two strong and one weak — indicating this die pair clashed on at least three separate occasions during production, with two events producing prominent transfers and one leaving only faint evidence. The clash marks from the Roman numeral III on the reverse appear transferred onto the obverse, while clash marks from the wreath on the reverse are visible in front of Liberty's face on the obverse. Notably, the upper portion of the clash marks displays all three sets of clashes, while the middle and bottom sections show only the stronger two — a graduated visibility pattern that reflects the different angles and pressures of the three separate clash events, with the weak third clash only strong enough to leave detectable marks in the upper die area. Additional transferred features include clash marks from Liberty's bun and from Liberty's throat area, documenting how multiple elements from the obverse design were simultaneously transferred to the reverse during the clash events. The Nickel Three Cent Piece was designed by James Barton Longacre, featuring Liberty wearing a coronet on the obverse and the Roman numeral III within a laurel wreath on the reverse. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1865, the final year of the Civil War, the coin is composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, weighing 1.94 grams with a diameter of 17.9 mm. The three-clash sequence makes this an exceptional study piece for understanding how repeated clash events interact — later clashes may partially overwrite or complement earlier transferred images, creating a palimpsest of overlapping design transfers.

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