We've gotten quite a few questions about mistakes on coins lately. Here are a couple...
Hi. I have a one sided roosevelt dime. It has a torch on one side the face side is blank." --Pete
Answer below...
The Value Of Coins With Mistakes
What Jim and Pete have here are "error coins".Millions of coins are released each year by the mints, so it is no wonder that a few abnormal coins slip by inspection and out into population.
These abnormal or misshaped coins are called misstrikes and errors. Error coins are highly collectible and usually command a lot higher price than if the coin were struck normally.
However, it is difficult to put a value on coins such as these since nearly every misstruck or error coin is unique in some way or another.
The best way to get the most money for an error coin would be at a public coin auction, or Ebay where 'error variety collectors' can bid against one another.
There are several varieties of errors. Some of them include:
Clipped Planchet -- An incomplete coin missing 10% to 25% of the metal.
Multiple Strike -- A coin with at least one additional image from being struck again off-center.
Blank Planchet -- A blank disc of metal that was intended to be made into a coin but never got struck by dies.
Defective Die -- A coin showing raised metal from a large crack in the die.
Off Center -- A coin that has been struck out of collar and incorrectly centered with part of the design missing.
Lamination -- A flaw where a fragment of metal has peeled off of the coin's surface.
Wrong Planchet -- A coin struck on a planchet intended for another denomination or of the wrong metal.
See pictures of some of these error varieties.
Other Types Of Error Coins
There are other errors as well for modern coins that have been clad or plated wrong -- which explains why some of the people posting have "gold looking" coins that shouldn't look gold.These normally aren't worth very much. I am not a huge expert on all the types of error coins, but generally for an error coin to be worth big bucks it would be one that you look at and immediately think "Wow, that's messed up." LOL
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I have a wheat penny and it is only one sided. It has the back but not the front so I can't tell what year it was made. How can I tell how much this coin is worth? Thank you for your time!
Hi, I am not sure about how to ask a question here. But, I have found a Roosevelt Dime that is missing the last number in the date. The date is 200_ and has a Philidelphia mint mark on it. There is a very faint mark where the last number should be and looks like it might be a 1. There are no scratch marks indicating the last number being physically removed. I am curious as to any and all information I can find, even value. Thanks
Craig
My son was looking at some coins my grandmother had given me and he found a 1943 Mercury dime with line that almost looks like a fold right on the middle of the reverse side. The prominent "fold" prevents the coin from laying flat on a surface. Has anyone seen this before?
I have a wheat penny (copper) that is missing the last part of the date, it only says 19. How much is it worth? It is in good to poor condition.
Hi,
I have a 1941 mercury dime yet on the reverse is a wheat penny. The coin looks like it is 90% silver (on the mercury dime sidde) and the reverse (wheat penny side) seems to be about 10% copper when I look at the width of the coin. If I look at the mercury dime side and then directly flip the coin over the wheat penny appears to be printed at like a 45 degree angle offset of the mercury dime on the reverse. Is my coin worth big bucks?
i found a copper nickel and was wondering if it was worth anything?
My friend found a nickel with jeffersons face on both sides. one side is dated 1975 the other is dated 1976....any idea if it's worth anything? thz