1976 Bicentennial Quarter With Abraded Die Clash.

Purchased on ebay as a correctly identified 1976 25¢ die clash.

I found it quite challenging to capture the die clash on this coin. Eventually, I photographed the die clash marks on an angle, which helped to bring them out better. The curves are shallow for a die clash of this size, but when I got the features in focus, the reason for that became apparent. Based on the heavy abrasions and die scratches in the clash areas, I would conclude that the Mint was aware of the clash and attempted to remove it from the die.

For reference, this is the major mint state 1976 die clash on PCGS.

1976 Bicentennial Die Clash Overlay by Yokozuna



Source thread for Yokozuna's overlay on CCF

The die clash is most visible as Washington's neck through the top of the torch flame, his chin and throat to the left of the flame, and his face out the bottom of EPU and through the drummer's wrist. A bit of Washington's ribbon bow is visible behind the drummer's hat.





The abrasion effort was much more successful on the obverse. A long, thin edge of the flame is visible in front of Washington's Adam's apple. At extreme angles, a few bits of wavy flame exist beneath the chin, but they are mixed with thick die scratches. Behind the head, a few faint bits of drummer can be found above the big curl of the wig. Again, these are heavily marred by big die scratches and are impossible to positively identify. Whatever clash existed in the mint mark area has been filed away with big parallel die scratches.