MAD Clashes      

The Study of Unusual Die Clashes

Misaligned Anvil Die


       Major misalignments of the anvil die are rare, principally because the neck of the anvil die is confined by the collar.  The only way a major misalignment can occur is if 1) the collar becomes unmoored, drifts laterally, and carries the anvil die with it; 2) the entire die assembly (including the collar) shifts position; or 3) the collar breaks apart, allowing the anvil die to shift position.  This 2000-P Virginia quarter shows a 10% horizontal misalignment of the anvil die toward 6:00.  The obverse die functioned as the anvil die in this press run.

 

      Of necessity, a coin showing a major horizontal misalignment of the anvil die will be broadstruck (struck out-of-collar) or will show evidence of a broken collar.