1991 Type I Counter Clash CCLTI-1C-1991-01

Description

Found by Ken Ferryman, this 1991 Lincoln Memorial cent exhibits a minor Type I counter clash with doubled clash marks — a multi-stage error that unfolds across two separate die-contact events. In the first clash, the obverse and reverse dies strike together without a planchet, transferring design elements from each die into the other: the Memorial roof profile from the reverse die becomes impressed into the obverse die's surface between Lincoln's coat and the 1 of the date. In the second clash event, the Memorial roof image that was transferred to the obverse die during the first clash gets pushed back to the reverse die, effectively returning a distorted version of the reverse's own design to the reverse die surface in a new position. This double-transfer mechanism — original design to opposite die, then back again — defines the Type I counter clash and creates the appearance of design elements in wrong positions on both dies. The result is a coin showing the Memorial roof in an unexpected obverse location (between the coat and date) plus a ghost of that same transferred element added back to the reverse during the second contact. The doubled clash marks indicate the two events occurred at slightly different angles. Struck at Philadelphia on copper-plated zinc planchets composed of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, weighing 2.5 grams and measuring 19mm.

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