Variety Vista
CONECA’s online center for all things die variety

The Split Image:

1971-S 5c DDR-008, 8-R-II-C+V-CW K-12

Description: Light spread and rotation on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and FIVE CENTS
Reported by: Timothy Wissert

Comments:  Reverse is RDV-007 (strong railings).  When I first saw this doubled die reverse proof Jefferson nickel, I thought, “too bad someone damaged it.”  I graded it a PR63 and added it to my collection.  Then, recently two more came in for attribution and both had been damaged in exactly the same fashion.  I know the damage didn’t occur through the carelessness of the person who sent them in.  He is very knowledgeable and careful about such things.  Even so, I suppose he could have damaged one, but certainly not two in the exact same manner.  Add these two to the one in my collection and that is three coins from the same die with the exact same type of damage.  Something odd must have gone wrong at the mint.  The most likely culprit is the feeder finger mechanism which ejects the finished coin from the coining chamber.  Unfortunately the damage is post strike, so it is just that, damage and not an error.  Still, it makes for a nice conversation piece.  I wonder, does anyone have a copy of this DDR without the damage?

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