2005 Typical Die Clash TDC-5c-2005(OIV)-01

Description

Discovered by David Strzalkowski on a 2005 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel bearing the Ocean in View reverse, TDC-5c-2005(OIV)-01 documents a die clash event — an impact between obverse and reverse dies without a planchet between them. The transferred design is visible under Jefferson's nose on the obverse, where branches from the pine trees of the Ocean in View reverse left their impression in the obverse die. The Ocean in View design, part of the Westward Journey Nickel Series commemorating the Lewis and Clark expedition, depicts the Pacific coastline with a pine tree and the inscription "Ocean in view! O! The joy!" from William Clark's journal entry upon first sighting the Pacific. A typical die clash occurs when the press cycles without feeding a planchet, causing the obverse and reverse dies to strike each other directly. The incuse design elements of each die leave raised clash marks on the opposing die, which then transfer as incuse impressions onto subsequently struck coins. The position of the clash marks indicates the relative alignment of the two dies at the moment of impact.

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