A die clash occurs when two dies come together when there is no planchet between them. The result is that a mirror image of one die or both dies (or portion thereof) is impressed on the other die. Subsequent strikings of planchets transfer the faint image (a clash mark) onto those planchets. The 1854 and 1855 LFEs may have no clash marks at all or they may have evidence of one one or more die clashes depending upon when particular specimen was struck in the emission sequence, the clash mark may be easily visible or difficult to identify.
Die clashes exist on 1855 Four-Leaf reverse LFEs and 1855 Two-Leaf reverse LFEs, as well as on 1854 Two-Leaf reverse LFEs. The focus of this page will be on the clash marks which exist on the 1855 Four-Leaf LFE. Clash marks that are present on Two-Leaf LFEs will be discussed on another page.
The image below superimposes the obverse of the 1855 Four-Leaf reverse LFE over its 180 degree rotated reverse, thereby replicating the perspective of the die clash from the obverse view.
The three areas of clash marks that a collector would see on the obverse would be (in clockwise appearance) between the eagle’s right wing and tail and the wreath, at approximately 3:30; between the eagle’s underside and the wreath at approximately 6 o’clock; and where the front of the eagle’s right wing intersects (twice) with the bow, at approximately 10 o’clock. These clashes are represented in the three images below.
The image below superimposes the reverse of the 1855 Four-Leaf reverse LFE over its 180 degree rotated obverse, thereby replicating the perspective of the die clash from the reverse view.
The three areas of clash marks that a collector will see on the reverse are between the eagle’s underside (which is facing upward) and the wreath at approximately 12 o’clock; between the “E” in ONE and the wreath, almost at 3 o’clock; and between “ON” and “CE” in ONE CENT. These clashes are represented in the three images below.
These clash marks are common on 1855 Four-Leaf LFEs and are likely present on all J-170As and J-171As.