1975 Canadian Half Dollar Error

[CDNinUSA]

1975 Canadian half dollar... I have seen A, D and AD missing from banner before (from other 70s half dollars) -- But, have never seen the 'I' missing before, along with the 'R' in MARI appear as a 'P'. 'Q' is missing the top, almost giving it the appearance of rounded 'U'. as well.

 

Should read A MARI USQUE AD MARE -- This coin reads, A MAP USQUE MARE.

 

Has anyone else seen this error before?

 

[SMS]

I am inclined to believe this may be a grease filled die. The incuse inscription would be a raised area on the die, but it would necessarily sit inside an incuse area of the die, keeping it from being "over polished" and loosing detail. From the photo, it is not possible to determine if the legend may have broken from the die and then been polished smooth (which is a possibility). For lack of better illustration with text, this is how an incused inscription on a device would look like on the die:

____ __ __ __ ___

|__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __| and it would look like __| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |_

|_|_|_|__|_|_|_|_|__|_|__|_|_|_| this on the coin: |______________________|

 

with a grease filled die on incuse inside a device, the die would be:

____ __ _ _

|xxxxxxxxxxxxx_ _ _ _ _ _ __| where X is the grease. __| | | | | | | | | | \-----------|

|X|_|_|XX|_|_|_|_|__|_|__|_|_|_| The coin would then be: |______________________|

 

 

Not the best representation, but good enough for ASCII art

 

Hope that helps to shed a bit of light on the matter. As far as rarity or value are concerned, there are collectors who specialize in varied error coins. However, filled die errors do not bring much of a premium unless they are rather dramatic. The more details that are lost, the more desirable it becomes. Not a bad find though!

[CDNinUSA]

I am inclined to believe this may be a grease filled die. The incuse inscription would be a raised area on the die, but it would necessarily sit inside an incuse area of the die, keeping it from being "over polished" and loosing detail. From the photo, it is not possible to determine if the legend may have broken from the die and then been polished smooth (which is a possibility). For lack of better illustration with text, this is how an incused inscription on a device would look like on the die:

____ __ __ __ ___

|__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __| and it would look like __| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |_

|_|_|_|__|_|_|_|_|__|_|__|_|_|_| this on the coin: |______________________|

 

with a grease filled die on incuse inside a device, the die would be:

____ __ _ _

|xxxxxxxxxxxxx_ _ _ _ _ _ __| where X is the grease. __| | | | | | | | | | \-----------|

|X|_|_|XX|_|_|_|_|__|_|__|_|_|_| The coin would then be: |______________________|

 

 

Not the best representation, but good enough for ASCII art

 

Hope that helps to shed a bit of light on the matter. As far as rarity or value are concerned, there are collectors who specialize in varied error coins. However, filled die errors do not bring much of a premium unless they are rather dramatic. The more details that are lost, the more desirable it becomes. Not a bad find though!

 

It certainly does shed some light on it, thank you. That is some great information and insight. Again, many thanks, SMS.

[ccg]

I'm leaning towards filled die as well. You could likely assemble a set showing different stages :-)

[CDNinUSA]

Invariably, it [the line of questioning] generally comes to this... is filled die considered an error? 'Value enhancing error'? ;-) haha

[ccg]

Yes, an error. It would have a bit of a premium though most usually prefer more dramatic examples.