BUFFALO NICKELS
Blanking (Submitted by: Terry Z.)
This coin shows die clashing. The two dies struck one another without a planchet between them, and each received an inverted impression of the other. Perhaps the reverse die was two badly damaged to keep using and was replaced, as the reverses of these coins don't seem to show the clashing. The Mint called this kind of accident "blanking" in its own correspondence, and it was well known as a cause for removing dies from service. The appearance of the Latin motto beneath the Indian's chin is illustrated in David lange's book (See Reference Book section), and collectors call this particular placement "chin whiskers."
Clashed dies are very common for Buffalo Nickels, particularly during the early years of the series. Such die states are fun to collect, but they don't have a premium value.
