Article: Error Coins

[Guest Stujoe]

<B>Error Coins</B><br><br><IMG SRC="

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<IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">In any manufacturing process there are bound to be mistakes made. Both human and mechanical errors occur on an irregular basis, resulting in defective products. In most industries these bad parts are caught by quality control inspectors or by the persons responsible for packaging the finished products. When spotted, these rejects are simply destroyed. If they succeed in eluding detection, the customer who receives the erroneous part will likely return it for a refund or exchange. But what happens when the defective item is money?<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">The United States Mint, at its various facilities, produces billions of coins annually. This works out to more than 40 million coins daily at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints and somewhat lesser numbers at the specialized West Point and San Francisco Mints. Whenever that much of anything is produced there are bound to be errors made.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">Modern coins are struck at such a high rate of speed that the human eye can barely perceive it. The fastest of the new coin presses can strike nearly ten coins per second! If these coins are somehow incorrect, the only way to spot the error is by examining the finished pieces after they fall into the receiving hopper. While this is done on an occasional basis, the day-to-day reality of producing millions of coins is that all but a very few United States coins are shipped without any visual inspection.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">To help prevent error coins from leaving the mints or even from being produced in the first place, each coining facility has installed riddling devices. These are mechanical sifters that cull out undersize, oversize and misshapen planchets and coins. In theory, this should prevent all but normally-sized and normally-shaped coins from leaving the mint, but the evidence found in the error coins themselves proves otherwise. Though most of the errors that manage to pass through the mints’ quality control stations are of approximately normal configuration, some wildly oversize or misshapen pieces do escape. This is sometimes no accident, as mint employees have been caught selling error coins to collectors and dealers for a nice profit. The U. S. Mint is very aggressive about prosecuting this crime, but the high value assigned to rare error coins remains an incentive for mischief.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">It was not always so. For generations, collectors of United States coins dismissed error pieces as simply curiosities, considering them to be less desirable than normally struck issues. All error coins were lumped together somewhat condescendingly under the acronym of FIDOs (Freaks, Irregulars, Defectives and Oddities). It wasn’t until the 1960s that the collecting of error coins finally gained some respect, clubs devoted to their study being established at that time. Since then, the premiums attached to error coins have risen dramatically. Concurrent with this rise in value, serious researchers have been able to determine exactly how each type of error coin is produced and, in so doing, have revealed much about the minting process in general.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">Dealers and collectors of mint errors classify each piece under one of three headings: Planchet, Die or Strike. This handy “P-D-S” system is easy to remember, and it can account for just about any type of error one encounters. Of course, some coins are the product of multiple errors. For example, a defective planchet can lead to a mis-strike, with the resulting coin being the product of both “P” and “S” errors. For the most part, however, mint error coins fall under just one of the three headings. Let’s examine each one and the errors that might result from it.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">A planchet is distinguished from a simple coin blank by having a raised rim. This rim is applied to the blank by an upsetting mill, which compresses the blank’s edge as it is spun between two beveled surfaces. Planchet errors encompass all mistakes resulting from a defective blank, whether or not it has passed through the upsetting mill.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">The most basic type of planchet error is when the wrong planchet is fed into a press. Since both the loading tube and the die collar are sized for the appropriate denomination of coin, only planchets of the correct or smaller size can be struck within the press. This means that a dime planchet can be struck by quarter dollar dies, but a quarter dollar planchet cannot be struck by dime dies, since it won’t fit into either the feeder tube or the collar. These wrong planchet errors typically occur when a few stray planchets of one denomination remain within a hopper that is subsequently loaded with planchets for another denomination. Sometimes finished coins are still in the hopper and become over-struck with different dies.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">Another planchet error, one that is highly sought by collectors, occurs when a planchet intended for a foreign nation’s coinage is struck by dies for a United States coin. This type of error was more common before 1984, when the U. S. Mint cut back its production of coins for other countries. It still may occur, however, as planchets are supplied to our mints by commercial vendors, and these vendors also service the mints of other countries. It’s not impossible for a shipment of planchets intended for one country to accidentally include those of another.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">A fairly common planchet error is popularly known as a “clipped” planchet, though the more correct term is incomplete planchet. When the planchet punching press does not advance the metal strip properly, the resulting strokes may overlap previously punched out metal and produce planchets that are incomplete. Straight or irregular clips occur when planchets are punched from the peripheries of the strip. If these incomplete planchets are not caught by the riddling machine, they result in coins that are likewise missing a portion of their area.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">Many other planchet errors can occur. Cents coined since 1982 are sometimes lacking their brass plating, and dimes, quarters and halves made since 1965 are occasionally struck on planchets that are missing one or both outer claddings. Conversely, they may be struck on just a clad layer that is not bonded to the copper core. Lesser planchet errors include laminated and sintered planchets, but such coins bring only minor premiums among error collectors.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">The term “die error” is something of a misnomer, as anything associated with a damaged or mis-made die is more correctly described as a variety. Still, such flawed pieces are typically sought by collectors of mint errors and are described as error coins.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">Perhaps the most popular die errors are major die breaks, commonly known as “cuds.” These occur when a portion of the die breaks away as the consequence of a progressive crack. Though made of tool steel, dies suffer from the repeated stress of striking planchets, and they will wear and, in some instances, crack. As these cracks deepen and reach from one edge of the die face to another, that portion defined by the crack may actually fall away from the die. The planchet metal then fills this void, the resulting coins showing a featureless blob where the die broke.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">Dies may be damaged in other ways, such as having some foreign matter compressed into their surfaces. A set screw or some other part of the press falling onto a die can result in severe scarring that is then transferred to each coin. Bits of wire or fibers from a brush used to clean the die will not damage it, but they can leave impressions on a coin, since planchets are not as hard as the die face.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">Striking errors are the third major class of mint errors, and these often produce the most dramatic and desirable error coins. One popular error is the multi-struck coin, in which a coin fails to eject from the press and is struck again and again with multiple images. Off-centered coins are relatively common, and they occur when the planchet is not properly centered within the collar. Broadstrikes are common, and they’re the result of the collar jamming or otherwise failing to enclose the planchet. If the collar becomes jammed within the press, a partial collar error can result in which some portion of the coin’s edge is properly formed while another portion is broadstruck.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">Things really get exciting when a coin adheres to the die face and then becomes a die in itself. The next few coins become brockages and will be either two-headed or two-tailed, one side showing a transposed image courtesy of the stuck coin. The piece adhering to the die will quickly become distorted, often wrapping itself around the die’s neck, forming a cap. There are numerous variations of this basic scenario, and the error coins that can result from it are often spectacular.<br><br><IMG HEIGHT="1" SRC="http://www.stujoe.com/images/invdot.gif" WIDTH="25" BORDER="0">The collecting of mint errors is one of the fastest growing areas in United States numismatics. Several specialty clubs exist, CONECA being perhaps the most prominent. More and more American collectors are discovering the great values to be found in world coin errors, and this too is a growing field. <br><br><I>Article provided with the permission of NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation) from their Photo-Proof series.</I>

[dprice]

I collect error coins and die varieties. Most people do not collect them. I like looking at them and wondering how it happen and how it made it through inspection. I think starting 2002 the inspection process was being enforced more and less error coins are getting threw. A yer or two after that they started making waffled coins from errors coins. I am not sure if they are still doing this. So it should be alot harder to get a recent error coin because there are less of them. I hope more people read this Topic.

[geordie582]

There's a good Brit one over on Predecimal.

http://www.predecimal.com/forum/index.php?...22163entry22163

Makes you wonder how two different denominations appear on the same planchet!

[josie]

I guess that must be 2.50 pounds worth,

[josie]

Great article stujoe, hope you will not delete this article for future reference of error and variety collector, there are many major and minor varieties of coin especially in the US were most of the market are base and were it originated, there are issue concerning collectors between those who collect normal struck, mint and proof differs from collectors who collect errors, that is why another grading company was formed, I am just asking correct me if I'm wrong,But the thing is that most of the unusual or obvious error coin was purchased in the mint, that other error collector may not have it, for before it goes to circulation the clever one come first and when it is offered to the market it is priced as premium, I don't now what premium is whe converted to US dollar, the point is that error collector will have a hard time owning one obvious coin as the one you posted since not all collector have enough money to buy a coin like that, for me that kind of collection is only applicable to those who have lots of money, as for other error and varieties that are priced as premiun but needed a keen eye to detect it from circulation that is where I am interested since the lostduchman have an article on it and also browse it for several times maybe you can give a least of example for the viewing pubic on what to look for,thier date thier erro or those who are priced as premiun especially in USA for I am base here in europe even if I like to have one, it is near to imposible. like the DDO or DDR Thank you.can you also make a list of error coin that are intercept by the clever one in the mint so the other reader may know if they find one is one of rarity, for the process of making one and getting in circulation is so remote because of strict policy of the mint and the US goverment.

[solitaryshell]

Great artical . I have 2 old error coins in my collection and I'm amazed that they were even circulated . I have a 1849 half dime that has a slight mark on the face and that was never stamped on the back . It's just blank ! I also have a 1901s barber quarter (grade good) that has an error on the face on the 7th thru 11th stars . It leads from each star to the edge of the coin . The back side of the smae area looks like a small indention . The barber is a $$ coin but I wonder if the error will devalue it much . When I figure out how to take good pictures , I will post them up . all my coins are still in little minila envelopes .

[trtcoach]

Hi, I collect error coins and I came across an unusual kennedy half a few months ago.

 

It is a 1970-s proof kennedy half with a peice of the back of his head missing. Alot of people said it had to be a fake so I thought I would have it graded. I was worried about spending $67 to have it graded by NGC or PCGS because they don't always grade certain coins and I didn't want to lose $67 and have nothing to show for it. Since I live in Denver & ICG has an office a few miles away from my house, I went to their office and showed them the coin. They told me they didn't think it would grade as a mint error because of the size of the error but every coin dealer I took it to could see it easily with the naked eye. The guy told me that it would cost $10 plus $2 to have it graded since there was no postage involved but then he said I'll waive the $2 and then he said I will only charge you $5 to grade it so I said ok. I went back the following week to pick up the coin and it came back as a pr-64 mint error struck through debris. Of course, I was delighted to have them grade it with an obvious mint error.

The eerie thing about the coin is that when Kennedy was assasinated, there was damage to the back of his head. I have called, looked all over the web, Ebay and everywhere I could think of to find out more about this coin but to no avail. As far as I know, this is the only coin like this in existence. I sent it to Coin World & a guy named Eric took pictures and said he would run an article in their magazine in the upcoming weeks.

 

Does anyone know anything about this kind of error or has anyone ever heard of the same kind of error?

I would really appreciate any help with getting any info about this coin and what I can do to get it more exsposure.

 

The picture shown is the coin before I had it graded as I am waiting for Coin World to send me the professional pictures that they took of my coin.

Thank you,

Tom

[LostDutchman]

I have owned or handled proof coins struck through wire.... grease....metal shavings... hair... fabric... it is very common on business strike coins... not so common on proof coins... but it does still happen... from the pictures i cant see much...

 

your better off making a new topic in the error coin section if you have any questions guys! I will be more then happy to try to give any help i can be or if you would like send me a PM using the send message button under my name

[PeterPy]

The UK have minted 11000 Million pennies and there are 113 Million in circulation! They make the odd error! I have an amazing example! It is a 1992 penny! mis-struck in nickel-plated steel , thinner and smaller than normal and out of symmetry slightly, but in the most amazing shape! 12 rounded corners like a one Anna! A really beautiful penny! and possibly the rarest!