Error Coins

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Author: Bill O'Rourke

Some coins that appear to be damaged might actually be valuable and collectible ERROR coins. While many coins are damaged outside of the mint, there are some coins that would be worth hanging on to. Here is a short and simplified list of error coins that collectors really seem to be interested in. For more information on these or any other types of errors, post a question on this site.

BLANK PLANCHET : This is a metal disk that did not get into the coining press. It will be blank on both sides and be made of the same metal a coin would be made from. In the case of Blank Planchets cut from dime, quarter or half dollar stock, there will be no reeded edge.

OFF CENTER STRIKES : When a planchet does not fall into the coining chamber correctly, it can be struck off center.

INCOMPLETE PLANCHET ERROR : Also known as a clipped planchet error, these coins are struck on a planchet that is not all there. During the process that cuts metal disks out of strips of metal, an accidental overlap occurs causing the punch to overlap an area that was already punched out. The resulting blank disks will have a portion missing. If one of these gets into the coining press an incomplete planchet error is the result.

MULTIPLE STRIKE ERROR : As the name implies, any coin that is not ejected from the coining chamber properly will be struck again. It may be centered or it may be off-centered when it receives the next strike.

MISSING CLAD LAYER : Coins like dimes, quarters and half dollars are made like a sandwich. There are two layers of nickel with a layer of copper between them. The layers are bonded together. If one of the nickel layers falls away before or after a coin is struck, one of the three layers will be missing. A coin like this will look normal on one side and be a copper color on the other side.

It takes an expert to tell if a coin is a true error or if it is simply a coin that has been tampered with. Please feel free to ask about your coin here!