A Rare 1903 Proof Liberty Nickel with 180^o Rotated Die

By

Michael S. Fey

While attending the American Numismatic Association Annual Convention in Baltimore, I had the pleasure of acquiring a great coin from a fine dealer, Winthop Carner, Winthrop Carner Rare Coins, Texas.    The coin was a raw 1903 proof Liberty Nickel in gem condition.  However, this was no ordinary proof Liberty Nickel.  It was struck with a full 180 degrees rotated reverse die.

As a collector of rotated dies, I can tell you that finding a business strike Barber rotated die is quite a rare occurrence.  I’ve previously reported in the BCCS Journal of my finding a 1908 D half with a 90% rotation, but finding a proof rotated die is an even rarer occurrence.   With the mint quite cautious in preparing proof coins for collectors, there are few instances in all of U.S. numismatics where a coin was unintentionally struck with an 180 degrees rotation, a medal alignment.  It’s neat just to see this coin.  When I showed it to Phil Carrigan at a dinner meeting after the show, his first word was “wow”!

A coin with a rotated die on business strikes can result from several possibilities:  (1)  Notching of either one or both dies for fixed placement in the die holder, typically the last step in the die making process, is made in error in the wrong position such that all coins coming off the die pair would the have the same fixed rotation.  This scenario is the least likely on business strikes as we see few examples of variety types in the 19th century and later with fixed rotated reverses. (2)  Either die holder breaks, allowing the die to rotate freely clockwise or counterclockwise during the intense pressure of striking.  This is likely as we do see rotated die varieties of varying rotations.  (3)  The bolster plate which holds the die holder breaks, allowing the die holder to freely rotate.  In any case, the later two are temporary in nature until the mint can replace the defective part with a part on hand, or one that they special order to be manufactured.

The chance for a proof coin with a rotated die to occur is less likely.  Considerable care is taken by mint employees (in a separate room) to prepare highly polished planchets, to use a special collar, to strike coins under greater pressure with multiple impressions, and to handle coins specially for collectors such that they look superior to business strikes collectors.   These coins would likely be handled with gloves and inspected for quality as collectors paid a premium for them.

It may be that for only one proof die in the entire Barber Nickel series, perhaps the notching was 180 degrees rotated and the entire striking produced rotated proof coins.   If this were the case, I would expect all known examples to have the same fixed 180 degree rotation.  If not, it may be that the die holder or bolster plate broke, the same as for business strikes.  Since we see relatively few rotated 1903 proof coins, perhaps a mint employee discovered the error before too many coins found their way outside of the mint.  In either event, your feedback on the die rotations of other 1903 Proof nickels would help us learn more about how this occurred.  If you don't have one, don't worry, now armed with the knowledge of this neat 1903 Proof error coin, you can go out and find one.

A review of the ANACS population report shows just 8, 1903 Liberty Nickel proofs certified as having rotated dies.  The finest grades PF 66.   This was the only proof date known to have a rotated die.  What I don’t know is, are the other examples also rotated 180 degrees?  If you have any further information, please drop me an E-mail at Feyms@aol.com    Happy hunting!