1859 IHC obv w/ 1857 Half Dime reverse error...Heritage

WoodenJefferson

Auction link
no affiliation/FYI

TomB

I realize some folks these things are cool, but I just look at them and shake my head that they even get slabbed since there is little doubt in my mind that these were unauthorized pieces made for private gain within the Mint.

Byers

I sold this unique major mint error to a dealer (who posts here) who sold it to another dealer (who posts here). They can identify themselves if they want to. It was the cover coin for the 5th issue of Mint Error News Magazine. It is one of the all-time major U.S. mint errors:

Link to pdf of issue 5 of Mint Error News

bhartman35

<< <i>I realize some folks these things are cool, but I just look at them and shake my head that they even get slabbed since there is little doubt in my mind that these were unauthorized pieces made for private gain within the Mint. >>





These types of things aren't errors. At best, they're curiosity pieces. Calling this an error is just as much a misnomer as calling a WI high leaf quarter an error. (Those quarters have the benefit of at least being interesting die varieties, rather than just science projects.)

CaptainRon

Interesting, auction states that it is unique, yet I see one currently for sale on a dealer website

CaptHenway

<< <i>Auction link
no affiliation/FYI >>



Very interesting. Also interesting is that if you go to the auction records part of the listing you get a long list of totally irrelevant foreign coins.
TD

CaptHenway

<< <i>

<< <i>I realize some folks these things are cool, but I just look at them and shake my head that they even get slabbed since there is little doubt in my mind that these were unauthorized pieces made for private gain within the Mint. >>





These types of things aren't errors. At best, they're curiosity pieces. Calling this an error is just as much a misnomer as calling a WI high leaf quarter an error. (Those quarters have the benefit of at least being interesting die varieties, rather than just science projects.) >>



Well, technically there is a possibility that it was a legitimate error, and you would have a difficult time proving that it was not. I remember taking a floor tour of the Ottawa Mint in the Summer of 1968, and being sorely tempted to casually slip a U.S. coin from my pocket into a bin of blanks and just keep walking. I did not, on the theory that we were probably being watched.
TD

NumisOxide

That thing is cool regardless of whether it's an error or not.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

very cool.

bhartman35

<< <i>Well, technically there is a possibility that it was a legitimate error, and you would have a difficult time proving that it was not. I remember taking a floor tour of the Ottawa Mint in the Summer of 1968, and being sorely tempted to casually slip a U.S. coin from my pocket into a bin of blanks and just keep walking. I did not, on the theory that we were probably being watched.
TD >>



I could be completely wrong, but I would imagine your ability to do that in the U.S. mint would essentially be zero (unless you worked there), and that teh consequences for trying would probably be non-trivial.

This process doesn't sound like the type of thing that's susceptible to anyone but a Mint worker monkeying around. And frankly, it sounds like a 2-person job, at that. How could you call yourself an inspector and not catch a cent/dime mule?

RichErrors

**I realize some folks these things are cool, but I just look at them and shake my head that they even get slabbed since there is little doubt in my mind that these were unauthorized pieces made for private gain within the Mint.

MUCH like the 1913 Liberty Nickel???

MrEureka

The way the reverse is flattened out, I imagine that this piece was created by placing two half dimes, one on top of the other, between the cent dies. (Edited to say that that must be wrong. The other piece would need to be a blank planchet or the current piece would show signs of brockage.) Somewhere out there, there may be a mate to this coin.





Here's another piece with a similar story:

Unknown

This content has been removed.

segoja

Based on the sleuths on the board, it's pretty clear who the owner of this coin is!!! ME!!!

Yes it's on my web site, yes it's the same coin....look at the cert #'s.

Yes it's unique!!!

Yes it has provenance back to 1873!!!

Yes it's worth North of $100K!!!

Yes it is for sale in the Heritage auction signature night at FUN!!!

Happy to answer any other questions the board has about the coin!!!

The other real mystery is how the coin was made. Every plausible scenario has some holes in it.

Bottomline, it is a mint made product, yes most likely made by someone fooling around.

Mike Byers said it best, it's one of the TOP 5 CLASSIC ERRORS OF ALL-TIME!!!

MrEureka

James - Good luck with the auction!

Regulated

The piece was made by putting an 1857 half dime on top of a blank planchet, with nothing else in the press, as far as I can tell...

FredWeinberg

You can't clap with one hand

MrEureka

Guess what folks? It's not just an ordinary 1859 cent. It's a transitional J-228!

Edited to say: Well, maybe...

Aegis3

<< <i>Guess what folks? It's not just an ordinary 1859 cent. It's a transitional J-228!

Edited to say: Well, maybe...

>>



You need a third, middle blank for that situation to work. OTOH, maybe one of the Inidna cent gururs can determine what die the obverse was struck with. A circulation die, a proof die, or a pattern die.

MrEureka

You need a third, middle blank for that situation to work

I'll buy that. And why not? Funny thing is, if the third (center) piece surfaced, everyone would say it's a fake uniface half dime brockage.

segoja

Like I said, a hole in every theory!!!

Even the major error dealers (And they've all posted to this message) aren't sure how this was made!!!

Byers

Indian Cent on Half Dime Planchet Uniface Obv PCGS MS63