By Ken Potter, Numismatic News November 30, 2009

Suzanne Steward of Abacus Coins, Va., sent in several interesting errors. The first is a 1947-S Washington quarter that at first glance appears to show a series of die breaks on the reverse. However, after a closer look I found the effects to be the result of occluded gas within the planchet itself.

Gas along with other contaminants such as slag can occasionally get trapped within an ingot that is later rolled and trimmed into coinage strip from which the blanks will be punched. The trapped areas of gas may migrate to the surface of a cooling ingot and then appear on struck coins such as on this one.

The largest areas of occluded gas are in the upper right quadrant throughout the word AMERICA and the left wing feather below (viewer’s right). It also shows as smaller streaks running diagonally from the rim in the upper left quadrant, NW to SE down through the eagle’s breast where you can see some slight lamination cracks with a dark slag-like interior. It is quite interesting and not a particularly common error on modern silver coins especially when of this magnitude.

She also sent in a 1971-D Kennedy half dollar that is struck through some sort of wire-like metal fragment on the reverse. The fragment most probably fell onto the lower die before the planchet entered the coining area as we can see that it also straddled the collar die where it is also struck through as shown in the image of the reeded edge.

John Abbott of Abbott’s Corp., Birmingham, Mich., came up with a very neat clad date Roosevelt dime that was struck on elliptically shaped clad scrap that entered the dies. This is a very unusual error type that is always a pleasure to see.

Roland Musick of Michigan found an 1865 nickel three-cent piece that displays a virtual 180 degree rotated reverse. This one is listed on the Rotated Die Coin Census Web site (http://www.rotateddies.com) as an R4 (Rarity 4) with an estimate of 81-200 examples known at the 180 degree mark and at the same rarity rating for 156 degree, 160 degree and 170 degree examples making it one of the more common date/denominations known with rotated reverses.

As most collectors know, United States coins are struck in what is referred to as “coin alignment.” What this means is that when the coin is flipped from side to side starting with the obverse right side up, that the reverse will be upside down on the turn. The opposite effect is referred to, as “medal alignment” since the vast majority of medals will have both their obverse and reverse struck lined up in the same direction. Musick’s coin would be referred to as struck in “medal alignment.” His images show the exact orientation of the dies as they were paired to one another.

Robert Blazis of Michigan found a 1999-D New Jersey state quarter in pocket change that displays a rotated reverse that is well over 90 degrees out of proper position, orientated as shown in the images. I was surprised to not find this one listed on the Rotated Die Coin Census Web site since all four of the other states minted that year are represented from Philadelphia and/or Denver with rotated dies ranging from 90 degrees to 180 degrees. Nice find, Robert.

Robert Pelletier of Maine sent in a 1952 Lincoln cent struck on a Tapered Planchet. The planchet may have come from anywhere in the coinage strip that bordered a low spot or the end of the strip. It is a very nice example of the error type since the position in which the taper was located on the planchet when it was struck resulted in maximum eye appeal. This error type in not particularly common when this obvious but for some reason is most often seen on cents dated 1955. Having one dated 1952 is an added bonus.



Ken Potter is the official attributer of world doubled dies for the Combined Organizations of Numismatic Error Collectors of America and for the National Collectors Association of Die Doubling. He also privately lists other collectible variety types on both U.S. and world coins in the Variety Coin Register. He is a regular columnist in Numismatic News’ sister publication, World Coin News, were he pens the Visiting Varieties column. More information on either of the clubs or how to get a coin listed in the Variety Coin Register may be obtained by sending a long, self-addressed envelope with 61 cents postage to P.O. Box 760232, Lathrup Village, MI 48076, or by contacting him via e-mail at KPotter256@aol.com. An educational image gallery may be viewed on his Web site at www.koinpro.com.

More Resources:

• Standard Catalog of United States Obsolete Bank Notes 4-CD Set, 1782-1866

• Fascinating Facts, Mysteries & Myths About U.S. Coins

• 2010 Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001-Date, 4th Edition

• State Quarters Deluxe Collector's Folder