Transitional error coins are coins that were made on a planchet (the blank piece of metal on which a coin design is stamped) from another year that had used a different metal composition.
Another kind of transitional error coin is one that is struck with an unintended design that had either previously been used or had not been slated for use yet.
Let’s look at each type of transitional error coin separately:
#1 – Coins Made On A Planchet From A Different Year & The Wrong Metal
So, for example, in the United States the last 90% silver dimes, quarters, and half dollars were made in 1964.
Production of copper-nickel clad dimes and quarters began in 1965.
Half dollars were struck on 40% silver planchets also beginning in 1965.
Even though all 1965 dimes and quarters were supposed to be made on the copper-nickel clad planchets, a few were accidentally struck on the 90% silver planchets from 1964!
As a result, there are a few rare transitional error coins that exist from those years.
The same thing has happened in other years, as well.
Any time the metal composition for a certain denomination of U.S. coin is changed in between years, there is the chance that a transitional error coin could result.
MUST READ: Off-Metal Coins vs. Wrong Planchet Errors
#2 – Coins With Designs That Were Supposed To Have Been Retired Or Not Used Yet
As for transitional errors involving designs, there are perhaps few as popular as the 1992 Close AM pennies.
The 1992 Close AM pennies were struck with a reverse (“tails side”) die arrangement on which the bottoms of the letters “A” and “M” in “AMERICA” are nearly touching.
The Close AM dies were not planned to be used until the following year, for the production of 1993 pennies. Some theorize the 1992 Close AM pennies may have been experimental trial strikes that somehow escaped the U.S. Mint.
Another popular transitional error involving design mishaps is the 1982 no-mintmark dime. Lacking the “P” mintmark that should have been on all Philadelphia Mint dimes struck since 1980, the 1982 no-mintmark dime has become one of the most valuable clad dimes you can find in circulation.
MUST READ: The U.S. Mint’s Mistakes Result In Error Coins For Collectors
How Much Are Transitional Error Coins Worth?
These types of coin errors are worth thousands of dollars!
Using the rare 1965 silver quarter and 1965 silver dime as an example:
- The 1965 silver dime has sold for more than $4,000.
- The 1965 silver quarter fetched a whopping $7,050 at a 2014 auction.
The period from 1964 to 1971 offered ample opportunity for the production of transitional errors for the dime, quarter dollar, and half dollar. The switch from 90% silver to copper-nickel clad for the dime and quarter dollar, while not popular with collectors, was a financial necessity. Since production of 1964 and 1965 coins continued well past the ends of those 2 calendar years, even concurrently, planchets of both compositions were on hand — and not surprisingly, coins of either date were struck on the wrong planchets.
~ CoinWorld
Are there more of these rare and valuable 1965 silver dimes and silver quarters out there?
Maybe.
The opportunity exists for transitional errors from other years and denominations, too!
A List Of Rare Transitional Error Coins
This type of error coin is definitely a popular collectible.
There are several kinds for hobbyists to pursue.
Here’s a list of some of the most valuable transitional error coins made on the wrong type of metal OR with the wrong design:
Transitional Error Cents
- 1943 bronze penny
- 1944 steel penny
- 1964 penny on copper-nickel clad dime planchet
- 1965 penny on silver dime planchet
- 1982-D bronze small date penny
- 1983-D bronze penny
- 1989-D bronze penny
- 1992 Close AM penny
- 1998 Wide AM penny
- 1999 Wide AM penny
- 2000 Wide AM penny
Transitional Error Dimes
- 1964 dime on clad planchet
- 1965 silver dime
- 1982 no mintmark dime
Transitional Error Quarters
- 1964 quarter on clad planchet
- 1965 silver quarter
- 1977-D silver quarter
Transitional Error Half Dollars
- 1964 Kennedy half dollar on clad planchet
- 1965 Kennedy half dollar on silver planchet
- 1964 Kennedy half dollar on clad dime planchet
- 1965 Kennedy half dollar on silver dime planchet
- 1977 Kennedy half dollar on 40% silver planchet
Transitional Error Dollar Coins
- 1976 Eisenhower dollar on 40% silver planchet
- 1977-D Eisenhower dollar on 40% silver planchet
I’m the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. I’m a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. I’m also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). I’ve contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. I’ve authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below!
