Part VI. Striking Errors:

Skidding Die Errors:

Design Decapitation Error:

Definition:  As the hammer die is retracting, it suddenly shifts laterally, removing the highest points of the design.  This error is closely related to slide doubling (a form of machine doubling) but is distinguished from it in the following manner:

1. Before the damage is inflicted, the hammer die actually lifts up a little bit instead of remaining at the lowest point of its downstroke.
2. The damaged metal is cleanly removed instead of being pushed sideways and piled into a series of ridges.

This 1976 Israel Greetings Token shows a design decapitation error in the northwest quadrant of the obverse face.  The token was struck by the Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation — Israel’s mint.

During a weak first strike the hammer (obverse) die was properly centered.  As it was retracting, the hammer die shifted to the southeast, scraping off the upper surface of the Hebrew letters located in the northwest quadrant.  The hammer die then lifted off the surface in preparation for the second strike.  During this second strike the hammer die was horizontally misaligned a whopping 50% and severely tilted.