Is a medallic strike a variety or an error?

dbldie55

There is an example of the 1894 two cent piece with a 180 degree rotated reverse as well as a 1903 Proof Liberty Nickel. Since there are many of these examples known, are they really errors or should they be considered a variety?

keets

error.

lordmarcovan

Depends on the issue. On a US coin, most probably an error. (I can't think of any US coins that would normally have medallic rotation, anyway).

On Darkside coins, that isn't necessarily the case. Many countries use medallic rotation.

dbldie55

I cannot think of any coin that would normally have a repunched date, but those are called varieties. (I suppose one is the way the die was created and the other is the way the die was placed in the press)

lordmarcovan

I think I understand your question better now.

Not that I could answer it any better. It's a good question- what's a "variety" and what's an "error".

TommyType

Technically, a variety....but everyone will treat it like an error.

Like a tomato.....technically, a fruit....but everyone will treat it like a vegatable.

nwcs

Error. Variety is a variation of the die's details. All coins have at least 1 variety. A rotated reverse is an error in die setup before striking.

keets

it would seem that a variety is an anomaly in the working die as hubbed, while an error is an anomaly in the striking process.

nwcs

Keets, I would extend it to say a variety is anything to do with the details of a die intentionally placed there by a mint employee and everything else is an error.

cladking

It's all just terminology.

Currently these are considered errors but they do have some things in common with varieties. They
are repeatable and affect the dies.

Most dies will settle at 180 degree rotation if they come loose and are allowed to rotate.