Major reeded edge off-center error!
Zoins
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I ordered this aluminum token with only a frontal shot and was shocked by the side profile when I received this. I love how curved the non-struck planchet is and the reeding on the edge.
How often does something like this happen?
Is it even possible to get something with this much depth slabbed?
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This is commonly referred to as a “baseball cap” off-center error, as one can see by the way the unstruck portion of the planchet resembles the visor of a cap.
IMO the TPGs are not likely to slab this due to its depth. It also may not be an attributable token — impossible to say without more pics.
Congrats on your purchase.
ANA LM
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Never saw the "baseball cap" before. Cool!
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Although a reverse photo wasn't
posted, there is a very good chance
that the other side of the token is
Uniface - it was struck partially on
top of another planchet, and that's
one of the reason's it has the 'cupped'
appearance.
for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
So if both sides are struck, this would be more rare?
Both sides are struck. I’ll post photos later. Seems like this is getting more interesting.
come on, lets see it!
BHNC #203
Okay okay, here it is!
It's Mardi Gras Doubloon, one of my fun interests.
This one is by Mike Frolich. I have another cupped baseball cap struck on both sides by Henry Alvin Sharpe, though it is less pronounced. The Sharpe piece looks like it was broadstruck out of collar.
No, it doesn't mean it's rarer
struck on both sides, just that
I guessed, from the 1 photo,
that it might be uniface on the
other side.
The 'baseball cap' look is from
the type of press used.
for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
Why would it go out to one side of it’s struck on both sides? What kind of press do you think is used?
I’ve seen die caps that were created when two planchets were struck together. Can a die cap happen from a single planchet?
The reeding could be due to the softness of the aluminum and basining of the die and overall thickness of the planchet/blank. The strike may be forcing the aluminum into the collar since it is very ductile and there is a lot of metal moving (due to the thickness). I wouldn't expect to see something like this on coin alloys due to alloy hardness and and planchet thickness.
Anyway, that's my guess and I'm sticking to it.
A total guess, as I am still learning about such things: the press did not have a floating collar, so the off-center planchet was forced into the fixed collar and struck as it appears. The portion of the planchet that was in the collar and between the dies got the full treatment (to include the reeding). I assume the extended "bill" of the baseball cap might just as easily have been shorn off, but in your case it remained attached.
BTW - as a "major error" on a private token, I assume it has only limited novelty value, since these could have been made intentionally?
I have a major off-center silver bullion round that I got for only a slight premium. I always assumed the value was limited as it is a private issue with no "legal" controls over its production.
The values are limited but I'm thinking that is more due to lack of demand. There are doubloon collectors but I don't think they are as serious as coin collectors in grades and may not generally focus on errors. I think most of them have fun with the regular, perfect issues and spend enough time on those that they don't think about errors. I'm not in that community so that's just speculation right now.
The errors could be made intentionally, but some issues I see with this include:
If one were to put some serious money into these, it would be worth looking into what happened to the Frolich and Sharpe dies.
This is unlike some brass tokens that I think Ken Potter is somehow related to where dies have been obtained and many errors are available and possibly created after the fact. I only mention Ken's name because I see him selling many of these on his website.
Similar to doubloon collectors, I'm not sure silver round collectors really focus on errors. Also, there are a lot of different issuers for silver rounds. For doubloons I try to limit myself to known artists like Sharpe and Frolich where it may be worthwhile to build up a bit of knowledge.
Of note, Dan Carr and Gallery Mint are two issuers who do seem to have following for their errors. These "errors" may be intentional but are limited in quantity which may help with price levels.
I don't really expect doubloons to worth a lot. I've been looking at these for 10 years and prices really haven't changed. It's more about cheap fun where I don't have to worry about investing lots of money or losing money, like getting a cup of coffee and possibly learning something about New Orleans culture, and artists like Frolich and Sharpe.
I think the FOI (Fun on Investment) can be quite high for these. The Frolich error is the price of a common steak dinner but offers hours of enjoyment and speculation.
Holy Cow - what don't you collect??
Never seen a baseball cap error - thanks for posting it!
agreed, it does look like a ball cab
I love collecting and learning about new things! If I don't get something expensive, I get something cheap
I've also never seen one like this before so it's quite a treat. It's like the Forrest Gump movie quote:
“My mom always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.”
It is the most interesting error I've seen
Very cool pick up!
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The planchet just slipped out of the collar and was struck off center.
The bend up is based on the press.
There's US error coins like this and Civil War tokens too.
Y'all are a very easily excitable bunch!
Here's another one ounce copper bunny token which is broadstruck but based on the press finned and cupped as it slipped out of collar.
I actually haven’t seen edge reeding on US coins and Civil War tokens like this. I might not be getting out enough! Can you post some?
It's worth finding a copy of this out of print book below as it will explain everything
Show us the coins
If reeded edge baseball caps are as common as you suggest, it should be easy to locate some. I’ll take a look later too.
I was talking about being cupped like a baseball cap.
That aluminum planchet might have been pre-reeded prior to your token having been struck.
Got it @Broadstruck. I agree non-reeded baseball caps are much more common. I think even those with a slight angle are more common those with larger angles. I think this one is unusual due to the reeding and angle of the visor. Given how sharp the reeds are, I'm guessing this may have been forced into the collar per @JBK's thoughts. My Sharpe baseball cap doesn't really have a discernible edge, the planchet just starts angling upward (or downward).
Here's one that's currently on the bay that's impressive to me. It has reeding and, even more impressive, it's semi-detached. Don't see many like this either. It reminds me a bit of the old Pittsburgh Pirates hats.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1938-200-REIS-BRAZIL-MASSIVE-ERROR-O-C-PERFECT-BASEBALL-CAP-STRIKE-WOW-2299/292848916781
That is pretty...excuse my french...badass! Very cool.
Neat but worrisome depending how fragile it is?
Hard to say without having it in hand and feeling if it's wobbly. Metal can be fairly strong. Of course, if someone steps on it, all bets are off!
I would consider getting it if it was cheaper. The amount I'd pay is limited because it's not in my primary collecting areas.
I have a nice Tupperware container you can use as an impromptu slab and I'll break out the P-touch for an official looking label.
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