Part II. Die Varieties:

Special Finish Errors:

Incomplete Proof Laser Frosting

Description: Laser frosting that is restricted to only one part of the raised design.  The type specimen for this proof frosting error was discovered by Oleksandr Kukharevych.  It is a 2014-S Native American proof dollar that lacks most of the frosting on the reverse design.  The reverse design features a native American couple that is presenting gifts of comfort and sustenance to Lewis and Clark during their journey of discovery.  On the reverse, frosting is restricted to the transverse bands that cross the pipe and the decorative stripes that run across the husband’s shirt and blanket and across his wife’s tunic.

The absence of frosting elsewhere on the design and design rim suggests that the laser was supposed to make two passes across the die face, one to etch the bands and one to etch the rest of the design.  Here it appears that the latter step was skipped.  It’s not clear whether the bands are supposed to be etched before or after the main part of the design.

Most of the proof frosting is clearly absent on the reverse face of this 2014-S Native American dollar.  Only the bands and stripes were etched by the laser.  The obverse face shows the normal amount of frosting.

This normal 2014-S proof Native American dollar shows the full complement of laser frosting on both faces.