U.S. Minting Errors & Varieties Flashcards
Error-Variety
One that varies in any way from the normal as a result of the minting process.
What did Delma K Romines and Bill Fivaz do for the Error-Variety hobby?
They shaped the hobby in many ways and still today.
What error was the catalyst to the Error-Variety hobby?
The doubled-die-obverse 1955 Lincoln Cent
When did the Collectors of Mint Errors club form? known as COME
1956
COME-Collectors of Mint Errors club, was let by who?
Michael Kolman Jr and Raymond Larson
Error-variety collecting gained popularity in the 1960s due to what?
CONE-Collectors of Numismatic Errors focused on?
CONE-Collectors of Numismatic Errors had what monthly publication?
NECA
Blanks (Type I, no rim)
Planchets (Type II, upset rim)
Improper alloy mix
Slag inclusion
Melting errors
The alloying process causes additional problems in these planchets.
Defective planchet-Melting errors
Gas-bubble planchet-Melting errors
Improperly annealed planchet-Melting errors
Cladding Errors
Cladding Errors - Partially unclad planchet
Cladding Errors - Unclad planchet
Plating Errors
Plating Errors - Partially plated planchet
Plating Errors - Unplated planchet
Plating Errors - Bubbled plating planchet
Rolling Mill Errors
Rolling Mill Errors - Rolled-thin planchet
Rolling Mill Errors - Rolled-think planchet
Rolling Mill Errors - Tapered planchet
Rolling Mill Errors - Rolled-in-metal planchet
Damaged-Planchet Errors
Damaged-Planchet Errors Mechanically damaged planchet
Damaged-Planchet Errors Faulty upset edge planchet
Damaged-Planchet Errors Strike-clip planchet
Punching and Processing Errors
Punching and Processing Errors - Rolling-fold planchet
Punching and Processing Errors - Improperly prepared proof planchet
Curved-Clip Errors
Curved-Clip Errors
Curved-Clip Errors
These planchets have more than one curved clip. The more clips, the greater the rarity. However, additional premiums depend on the amount of missing metal.
Curved-Clip Errors
End-or Edge of Strip Errors
End-or Edge of Strip Errors
End-or Edge of Strip Errors
Incompletely Punched Errors
Incompletely Punched-curved-clip planches
Incompletely Punched-Oval curved-clip planchet
Incompletely Punched-Crescent curved-clip planchet
Corner-clip errors
Outside corner-clip planchet
Inside corner-clip planchet
Lamination Errors
Lamination Errors
Lamination-crack planchet
These planchets exhibit “peeling” metal. The lamination can fall from or be retained on the planchet. The larger the lamination, the greater the rarity. Lamination are frequently found on the 35% silver war nickels of 1942-45. They also are common on Wheat cents, but much more scarce on 90% silver coinage.
Split-Planchet Errors
Split-Planchet
Hinged-split-planchet
Clad planchet w/ a clad layer missing
Clad planchet w/ both clad layers missing
Separated clad layer
Broken-planchet errors
Broken planchet
Wrong-stock planchets
Dime-stock planchet
Quarter-stock planchet
Dollar-stock planchet
Extra Metal on a Planchet
Sintered coated planchet
Copper-washed planchet
Metal Strip-Punched metal strip
Metal Strip-Chopped metal strip
Die Errors
Die errors are the result of die wear and tear. Under tons of pressure and thousands upon thousands of strikes, die beings to break down.
Die-Collar and Hub Crack Errors
Die Crack Errors
Die Cracks
Head-to-rim die crack (Lincoln Cent)
Shattered die
Rim-to-rim die crack
Split die
Collar-Crack Errors
Collar crack
Hub-Crack Errors
Hub crack
Die-Collar-and Hub-Break Errors
Die-Break Errors
Die chip
These appear as small, raised, irregular blobs of metal usually at design stress points. They most often are found in the recessed areas of certain letters or numbers.
Die Break
“BIE” die break
This sub-category of die break affects the letters of LIBERTY on the Lincoln cent. Technically, only a vertical die break between B and E of LIBERTY qualifies as a “BIE.” (The break resembles the letter “I.”) Generically speaking, however, die break between any of the letters of LIBERTY qualifies.
“Bar” die break
Rim die break
Retained broken die
In this sub-category of split die, a broken piece is held in place because it is not fully separated or because it is part of the anvil (lower) die. In the latter case, the collar acts as a retaining wall fro the broken die.
Major die break (cud)
Retained broken center
the soft shank, eventually separating the center of the die from the rim portion. This error is extremely rare.
Laminated die
Collar Break Errors
Collar break
Split Collar
Broken letter or digit
Hub-Break Errors
Hub break
Worn-, Damaged and Clashed Die, Collar and Hub Errors
This general category includes any die abnormality not previously discussed. Collectors are primarily interested in Worn Dies, Collars and Hubs the clashed die varieties, and then only if there is significant design transfer.
Worn Dies, Collars and Hubs
Worn Die
Heavy design transfer
Damaged Dies, Collars and Hubs
Gouged die, collar or hub
Dented die, collar or hub
Pitted or rusted die, collar or hub
Die and Collar Clashes
Heavy die clash
Off-center die clash
Different denomination die clash
Heavy collar clash
Die Repair Errors
Die scratches
Abraded die
Re-engraved die
Coin struck from dies on which letters, digits or design elements have been strengthened through the use of engraving tools are becoming very popular among error-variety collectors. While known mainly on proof coinage, a couple business strikes exist. Watch for a re-engraved vest on 1953 proof Lincoln cents and an added lower serif on the S of TRUST on some 1938 proof nickels. The die for the 1953 proof quarter is known to have re-engraved tail feathers on the reverse.
Striking Errors
Struck-on-Abnormal- Planchet Errors
Struck on a false planchet
Struck on bonded planchets
Struck on a wrong planchet
A myriad of combinations is possible here. These differ from “wrong-stock planchets” in that there is nothing wrong with the planchets themselves, only they are stuck by the wrong dies. Remember that a planchet larger than the coin’s intended diameter cannot enter the sticking chamber. Thus, every current denomination can be struck on a dime planchet, while only dollars can be stuck on dollar planchets (excluding the smaller “golden dollar” planchets). The most common combinations are cents struck on dime planchets, nickels struck on cent plachets and quarters stuck on nickel planchets.
Struck on a wrong-series planchet
U.S. coin struck on a foreign planchet
Foreign coin struck on a U.S. planchet
These coins were are struck with lower than normal pressure. They are distinguished from die adjustment strikes by the amount of design showing. Weak strikes show the complete design, except at the points of highest relief.
This coin exhibits weak or missing design elements because the die was clogged with a combination of grease, dirt and iron filings. There is a rough surface where the design element is missing. Since it is relatively easy to fake this error, only uncirculated coins are considered collectable. This is the most common of all struck-through errors.
The coin exhibits dual images on the edge because it passed through a second and different set of edge dies. Two sets of edge dies now are used to strike U.S. dollars (Native American and Presidential)
This error is commonly called a “railroad rim” (even though it is the edge, not the rim, that is affected) because it looks like a railroad car wheel. This coin exhibits a split-level edge where the oversee (hammer die strike) has expanded larger than the reverse (anvil die strike). This occurs when the collar jams on the shaft of the anvil die at a position where only part of the planchet is contained in the collar. Care should be taken not to confuse this error with a coin that has been damaged by being forced into a “lucky coin” encasement. The partial collar strike has two, distinct diameter.
Brockage errors result when a planchet and a normally struck coin are in the coining chamber at the same time. The two items may overlap each other, rest on top of each other or differ in size. There is one exception-the “brockage second strike”-which occurs when a planchet and a brockage coin are in the coining chamber together.
When a planchet and an already struck, smaller coin or fragment are in the coining chamber together, the result is a double-struck image on one side fo the smaller coin or fragment and a flattened, enlarged design on the other side, and a second coin with a strong strike on one side and a depressed and slightly enlarged, incuse mirror image of the already struck samller coin or fragment on the other side.
This category refers to the positioning of the dies, which can be offset, tilted or rotated. Same specialists hold that misaligned and rotated strikes should be grouped under “die varieties” because the error repeats for each coin struck.
Coins rotated 180 degrees have so- called “medal alignment.” recent examples include the 1989D Bicentennial of Congress commemorative dollar and the 1988P Kennedy half dollar, which can be found in mint sets.
1979S
1981S
Poor Man’s double die
This coin exhibits hub doubling that occurred because a die or hub expanded during the annealing process and did not return to its original size. An expanded die matched with a normal hub results in doubling toward the center. An expanded hub matched with a normal die results in doubling toward the rim.
