2011 Atypical Die Clash ADC-5C-2011-01

Description

Documented by the MadDieClashes catalog as ADC-5c-2011-01 and discovered by David Strzalkowski, this 2011 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel features a strong die clash with documented overlay positioning showing the relative alignment of the dies when the clash event occurred. The clash marks left by Jefferson's eyes, nose, and cheek from the obverse die can be seen just below Monticello's stairs on the reverse — the facial features transferring as incuse impressions into the architectural design of Jefferson's plantation home, creating a juxtaposition where the building's creator appears ghosted into his own architectural masterpiece. Conversely, some of the bay windows from the Monticello reverse design are clashed into the area below Jefferson's right eye on the obverse, creating transferred architectural elements within the portrait field. The die can be specifically identified by a die chip in Jefferson's right eyebrow — a progressive deterioration marker that serves as the primary confirmation diagnostic for this die pair. Die clashes occur when the dies strike each other without a planchet between them, and atypical die clashes involve unusual orientations, rotations, or multiple clash events that produce non-standard transfer patterns. The Jefferson Nickel was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 2011 in copper-nickel composition (75% copper, 25% nickel) weighing 5.00 grams with a 21.21 mm diameter. The MadDieClashes overlay analysis documents the exact geometric relationship between the dies during the clash event, providing both attribution guidance and insight into how the dies were positioned relative to each other at the moment of the unintended die-on-die contact.

External References