In The News …

August 16, 2015—The first reported (and to date the only known to me) 1952 Proof Franklin half dollar with a “Bugs Bunny” die clash was auctioned off by GreatCollections on Sunday, August 16th for $5,775 including the buyer’s fee. The variety was previously unrecorded until recently when it was reported by Chris Tisdale from Utah.

It was first publicizes in CONECA’s July/August 2015 ErrorScope by Bill Fivaz and can be found reported upon further down on this web site.

The nick name Bugs Bunny comes from the fact that the clash marks within Franklin’s mouth mimic long teeth as those seen on the cartoon character Bug Bunny. They originate from the feathers of the Eagle to the right of the Liberty Bell on the reverse of the coin. Clashes occur when a planchet fails to enter between the dies during a cycle and the dies clash into each other often imparting portions of the design of one or both die(s) to the other die.

This may very well represent a record price paid for a “Bugs Bunny” die clash.

The “Bugs Bunny” variety is known to many on the 1955 Franklin Half Dollar business strike and it is also known on other business strike dates and mint marks. However, it was previously unknown on a Proof issue. It has been graded PCGS Proof-65 as FS-403 Bugs Bunny, with CAC approval.

Cherrypickers’ co-author Bill Fivaz wrote: “The clash marks at the mouth of the eagle’s wing on the reverse are every bit as strong as on the 1955 business strike and because the discovery coin is an early strike from the clashed dies (it’s somewhat frosted on both obverse and reverse) it is naked eye obvious.

“

The coin is destined to be listed in the 6th Edition, Volume 2 of the Cherrypickers’ Guide by Bill Fivaz and J.T. Stanton and it has appeared in Coin World and Numismatic News articles when the coin was first discovered earlier this year.

KP