An error coin is a coin that was manufactured incorrectly by a mint. Many times called mint errors, error coins come in scores of “shapes, sizes and types.” The sheer variety of minted errors adds excitement and uniqueness in collecting them.
What type of error coins are there?
There are three different types of errors, planchet errors, die errors, and mint striking errors. Some examples are: strike doubling, laminations, struck through, off center, clipped planchets, capped dies, grease filled dies, die adjustment strikes, and die clashes.
What is a lamination error on a coin?
Definition: Lamination errors are planchet errors in which the surface of a coin cracks and flakes. The surface of the coin simply cracks and may lift up slightly on one side. Lamination cracks are sometimes mistaken for die cracks and split dies by novice collectors.
Why are there errors in the minting of coins?
These flaws occur in the mint during the process of making the coins – from preparing the metal for the planchets or coin blanks to striking the design using the metal stamping tool called coin dies. Minting defects are very rare especially with the technology of modern coinage.
Which is the most common type of mint error?
This type of error is one of the most common mistakes in minting coins. Off-center strikes are the most known mint error coins in numismatics. Off-centering occurs when the coin blank does not land properly on the collar (a metal ring between the upper and lower die of the coin chamber.
Are there any coins that have missing lettering?
Missing Edge Lettering – Coins that are supposed to have lettering on the edge is missing. This is most prevalent on Presidential Dollars. Although error coins are very difficult to price and a definitive price guide for coin errors does not exist, Alan Herbert authored The Official Price Guide to Mint Errors.
Why is there a strike through error in the Mint?
Well, the mint’s are factories, with lots of equipment made up of thousands of parts, machines dripping grease, bolts, screws, and random debris, and so there are lots of things which could break off, come loose, or accidentally be fed into a press striking coins.
