VOCABULARY TERM: DIAPER

Instead of a blank die early die makers occasionally used a die with a substitute design when proving a new die when its mated die was not available. Each die maker had his own diaper die design.

Diaper. A design of repeated elements, usually fitting within one another to form a consistent pattern that occupies the entire flan of a struck numismatic piece. As a medallic design it is monotonous and generally lacks any relationship to the opposite side of the struck piece. The practical use of a diaper die is to replace a blank die or jack die during proving, where it indicates a design is intended to appear on that side but perhaps is not yet ready. As such a diaper design indicates the piece is a die trial. The term derives from the name of a cloth with such a textured pattern first made during the Renaissance.
CLASS 04.4

Reference:
S5 {1974} Stafford and Ware, 73.

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