SHD-5c-1867-01 Shattered Die

Description

Opening the shattered die catalog for the 1867 Shield Nickel, SHD-5c-1867-01 appears on the No Rays sub-type struck at Philadelphia. The No Rays configuration became standard partway through 1867 when the Mint eliminated the decorative rays between reverse stars to reduce die wear — yet even the simplified design could not prevent the catastrophic multi-crack failure that defines a shattered die. Shattered dies exhibit a web of intersecting fractures radiating across the die surface, producing a distinctive network of raised lines on each struck coin. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins, this variety was struck in the copper-nickel alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel, a composition whose hardness imposed severe stress on working dies. The Shield Nickel's bold high-relief design compounded this challenge, as deeply recessed elements in the die required greater striking pressure to fill completely. For Shield Nickel collectors, the first shattered die for the 1867 No Rays type documents the kind of terminal die failure that resulted from the denomination's demanding combination of hard alloy and intricate design during only the second year of production.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Chuck Newman
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References