Baby Boomer Pocket Change

Let’s Talk About Error Coins-Video Showing Obvious Errors

I don’t know why I am fascinated with error coins. I am constantly looking for them and it is totally against my personality. I do not tend to be very exacting or as focused as many who are involved in collecting error coins. I think the reason I am captivated is because I do not play the lottery or pull down the arm at the casinos. So for me being on the  hunt for error coins instills in me the same thrill.

When I first started looking for error coins I just wanted to know what they looked like. Now, I have the reference books and get a kick out of seeing the pictures or a real one in person. Soon, I hope to identify them quickly enough to separate them from other coins and research them more in depth.

So, enjoy a short video showing you some very obvious coin errors you can find IN YOU POCKET CHANGE.  This video is by an error coin collector.

Tags: Error Coins

2009 Lincoln Penny Errors

As I sit down at the table with a magnifying class examining a 2009 Lincoln penny, found in my pocket change, I am in total awe. I have a few pennies that are the Lincoln Professional.

Coin errors are not easy.I usually refer to a few error books like the Cherrypickers’ Guide This book comes in two volumes and extensive guide on errors.
I also simply love Strike It Rich with Pocket Change

Be sure to get a magnifier with at least 7x up to see some of this errors.  It can be relaxing to look at each coin. So come along with me on this journey of learning. Remember, I am using this site to share some of the things I am learning. I hope it is helpful.
Now get out those new Lincoln pennies. If you don’t have any yet you can get them at your local coin dealer, Ebay or directly from the mint. As of this writing some of the rolls are sold out but you can get them in the 2009 Proof set.

The Mint News Blog has an insightful article about possible double die errors on the 2009 Lincoln Formative years cent. The Lincoln Formative Years cent is the second in the four new coins released this year. Be sure to read the engaging comments at the end of the post.

A bootstrap error has been reported on the Lincoln Formative Years Series. This was featured on a CoinLink. It appears that you may not need a high magnification to see this error.

I will revisit this later I am sure. Meanwhile, I will keep learning so if I see one in pocket change I will know what I am looking at. Please share anything you might know with this babyboomer. Thanks

Tags: 2009 Lincoln penny, 2009 Lincoln penny errors, baby boomer, Error Coins, pocket change

What is a Double Die Coin Error?

I recently saw this error coin being sold on Ebay. It is for one of the new Lincoln pennies. The error shown is a double die. Ok, if you are new at this, like I am, you want to know what a double die error really is right?

Well according to coin expert, Susan Headly

A doubled die coin is a coin that was struck from a die that had a partial or full doubled image on it. The doubling comes from mistakes in the die hubbing process, where more than one image is transferred from the hub to the coin die. The 1955 doubled die Lincoln Cent (see photo) is the classic example of a doubled die, and sparked the start of the error coin collecting hobby in the U.S. Although no other doubled die types exhibiting the remarkable degree of doubling seen on the 1955 cent have emerged from the U.S. Mint, noteworthy doubling has also been found on 1972 and 1995 Lincoln Cents.

I also checked out a great resource site for double die coin errors. So I will be referring to it. The site is called Wexlers Die Varieties .

I especially like this site because it shows and explains die errors for current coins like the Lincoln penny and others that came out in 2009.

So keep looking at that pocket change.

Tags: double die variety, lincoln pennies, Pennies

Some Paid Mortgage With Error Coin Finds on 1995 Pennies

I just read this interesting article about double die errors on 1995 pennies. The fact that when they were first discovered provided good premiums is very encouraging. Now, this same find will bring in money but not as much as it did at that time. Anyway, read this article by Coin World on the 1995 penny errors and start looking at your pocket change.

Tags: 1995 penny errors, double die

Type of Error Coins-Overdate

Now I am really looking for overdate errors. They seem to be easy to pick up, just waiting to find one.

Overdate

In the past, it was a common practice for a mint to use a certain die until it broke. As some dies would last for multiple years, a figure would be punched over the old date. For example, some 1942 Mercury dimes show a 1 beneath the 2.(Wikipedia)

Here are examples of overdate errors.

Types of Error Coins-Strike Errors

Below is a definition of strike error coins by Wikipedia. Now, I suppose by now you know that a magnifying class is essential. Actually, you might need several with different magnifications. But more on that later.

Strike errors

Strike errors occur when the planchet is struck. It is a fault in the manufacturing process rather than in either the die or the planchet. A standard type of strike error is a broadstrike, where the rim image is not struck into the coin’s edge because the collar die was missing. Numismatists often prize strike error coins over perfectly struck examples, which tend to be more common, but less highly than die error coins, which are usually rarer, making it valuable.

Broadstrike errors are produced when the collar die malfunctions. The collar is the circular die surrounding the anvil (lower) die. It applies the edge device (reeded edge, plain edge) and prevents the metal of the coin being struck from flowing outside of the confines of the die. When the collar is prevented from working properly during striking, it may rest below the surface of the anvil die. All denominations of U.S. coins with a broadstrike have a plain edge.

Here are some examples of Strike Errors

Tags: coins, Strike errors

Types of Coin Errors-Hub and Die

Wikepedia defines hub and die errors:

Hub and die errors

Hub and die errors are the result of faults in the coin hub or coin die. There are many different kinds of such errors. Modern coins are still released with hub and die errors, because the defects are too small to be seen with the naked eye. A few exceptions exist, where the dies are used despite producing easily visible flaws. The 1955 Lincoln cent is an example.

Now before you get real excited note that there are, unfortunately, some phonies out there created to fool you. If you have one of the 1955 Lincoln cents that look like it has the die error have it checked out with a reputable dealer.

Bonus

Here is  a current sale going on now at Ebay auction for the Lincoln double die, 1955 cent. You will not believe what it is selling for. So, start looking closely at those Lincoln 1955 pennies.

Tags: coin die, coin hub, Lincoln cents

Type of Error Coins-Planchet

Planchet errors

Planchet errors occur when the wrong coin blanks, or planchets, are fed into a coin-stamping press. This results in a coin that has been stamped with a design intended for a differently sized coin; this is called a wrong planchet error. In addition, unminted or blank planchets are occasionally produced. The results are usually obvious errors that are also prized by collectors, though the errors are usually caught in manufacturing and destroyed. Blank planchets with rims are valued lower than those with no rim.

A Kennedy half dollar struck on a Susan B. Anthony planchet is extremely rare. Sacagawea dollars exist with a state quarter design on the back; this type of error is called a mule, and unintentional ones are rare.

Occasionally a misfeed can occur where a strip isn’t fed through far enough. When this happens, the punches strike an area of the strip which overlaps the hole left by the previous strike. The result is a blank with a piece missing. A clipped planchet is straight, curved, ragged, incomplete, or elliptical.

A wrong planchet occurs when a denomination is struck on a planchet of a different denomination. Some examples include cents struck on dime planchets, nickels on cent planchets, or quarters on dime planchets. Sacagawea dollars have been reported with statehood quarter designs on the reverse. A much rarer error is a U.S denomination struck on a foreign planchet (17th,18th, and 19th centuries only).

(Source: Wikedpedia)

I appreciated Coin Worlds’ explanation and deeper look at the types of plancet errors. The pictures are very clear.

Here is an example of an error coin on Ebay. It is a quarter on a nickel planchet.

Tags: planchet