An error on purpose?

Coins like this don't really happen accidently do they? Someone at the mint was having some fun surely right?
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Coins like this don't really happen accidently do they? Someone at the mint was having some fun surely right?
Comments
I have no idea what you have there.... have you sent it to a TPG? Or better yet, Fred Weinberg? Cheers, RickO
It's what's called an "assisted error" outside the mint.
Inside the mint this might have been a die adjustment trial strike on an oversized planchet.
what is on the reverse?
BHNC #203
It looks to already be in a holder. The prongs look like it could be in a PCGS holder.
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Those are not the prongs for a PCGS holder, which has three wide fingers. NGC has four narrow fingers. Not sure about other holders.
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It's counter stamped on the reverse as follows below -
_" What your holding I managed to sneak out of the mint in my lunch box or a body cavity... Either way you might want to wash your hands!" _

Looks like a nickel struck on an Ike planchet. Most definitely not by accident.
That is unusual. Will be interesting to hear how it came to be.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
Everything about that was manually and intentionally done. It's not physically possible for an Ike planchet to make itself into a nickel press by accident. It may as well be dated 1913.
Did NGC grade it PR61? Poor strike and luster, below average eye appeal, no hairlines on what little mirrors there are, not worn.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
would you show us the other side please?
Agree that it is an assisted "error," though I can't see any chance of it being an adjustment piece of any sort.
It's in plastic alright,
try this
https://coins.ha.com/itm/errors/1976-s-5c-jefferson-nickel-obverse-impression-struck-into-center-of-a-dollar-planchet-ngc/a/1238-4440.s
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
What error is being discussed in the description of this lot?
As it sure wasn't this
Of course! Thanks for the correction.
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
I think it's ICG looks cool.
Hoard the keys.
I was the original buyer of the coin
when it first surfaced, so I'm familiar
with it.
A S even. So it was a proof?
My Early Large Cents
IMO, not a proof but struck with proof dies. The polished blank and twice (or more) struck aspects of proof production are missing.
I see from the same auction there is an obverse of a cent struck on a half dollar.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
That one's not my favorite.
There are better examples in the wild, like one's that are really well struck.
I like the well struck up examples that are also die struck on both sides.
These smaller dies struck onto larger planchets or larger coins are known to exist from P & D & S Mints dating back to 1965.
Lindy
Tell us about it Fred!
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
What is he supposed to say, yep clearly a for profit piece of illegal fantasy but I was honored to help inject it into the commerce channels and provide said profit because I got to make a profit too? Hopefully the next guy will bring me the next one too?
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
I would bet those were part of the San Francisco safety deposit hoard that came to light in the late 1990s. It contained numerous spectacular (some would say impossible) proof and SMS errors dated 1965-70. The Secret Service examined the hoard and allowed their sale, so all are legal to own.
I’ve seen coins like the OP’s referred to as uniface die trials or splashers. It would have been produced manually, not in any sort of coining press, and obviously was never meant for circulation.
Sean
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
My guess is the 76S 5c struck onto Ike planchet was lightly struck on a press with collar die held back.
The weird reverse die used makes it less appealing.
Well that and the 100k ask price:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1976-S-Proof-5C-Obv-Struck-into-1-Planchet-NGC-Nickel-Dime-Mule-UNIQUE/272436812627?hash=item3f6e7fdb53:g:P0AAAOSwu-BWPs2-
Another less appealing to me example is always for sale at $199,500.
Its uniface struck and a bit crushed after strike at 12 o clock:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-CENT-on-NICKEL-planchet-UNIQUE-and-supposedly-IMPOSSIBLE/251377244021?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
Why do people insist on impugning the integrity of individuals and businesses without knowing the full story?
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
As Sean says, they are legal.
As a former collector of error coins who has written a few words about error coins, I find them personally dis-interesting. Your mileage may vary.
TD
Did you cash out your error collection Tom, or just stop acquiring them ?
Lindy
Stopped collecting when I became a full-time dealer.
So if they were manufactured at the mint, how do they legally leave the premises and become salable? Are they fantasy pieces struck outside of the mint?
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
Pieces as such were 'spirited' out of the US Mint under false pretenses. When they emerged in a California run state auction, the Treasury Department did not realize the significance of the contents of the unclaimed safety deposit box and it went up for auction. Everything about the sale became legal as did the error coins.
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
Thanks, never heard of these or this auction before.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
Major striking errors on proof coins have been available for sale since the mid 1970's.
Lonesome John included them in his old publications with pictures and pricing.
Fred had some imaged and for sale in his Numismatics LTD catalogues.
I have some early 1970's ANA Show catalogues where they were included and sold, they traded hands with no problems.
Dr AK Berry collected many of these 1970's Proof Errors and then later donated them to the ANA, decades ago. They've been on display twice at The Museum.
The last edition of Judd Patterns has many 1970's Proof errors imaged in it from the AK Berry Collection.
Some proof errors can be very affordable, nowhere near 100k ask.
Lindy
I was working at the ANA when the Dr. Berry Collection came in. Got to play with them while helping Museum Curator Bob Hoge make sure they were attributed correctly in the Museum's records.
It has been a long time and my memory may be faulty, but I seem to remember getting the impression from Bob that Dr. Berry had donated them after he found out that they had been made deliberately, and now thought considerably the less of them.
TD
Tom, I'm not sure about that......
I've never heard that before, and also,
there were many non-Proof errors in
the collection he donated to the ANA,
as I recall.
I could see where he might do that with
a few of the Proof Ikes, but not his entire
collection (for that particular reason, at least)
"Play with them" makes sense to me Tom.
I recall the Proof Ike with a perfectly centered Dime planchet placed on the S Mint Ike's obverse before strike. Then they got struck together. Thought provoking mated pair.
Berry collection included many cool unc error items from Denver and Philly too. Wasn't his major OC Morgan included in the donation ? I looked at that exhibit a few times 30 years ago.. It was
very educational !
I've wondered why Berry $ errors were included in the last edition of Judd Patterns.
In my mind, Assisted Errors are not Patterns.
Was there backlash to his proof errors being included in Judd Patterns?
Don't knock them, someone risked a decent salary and a lifetime pension to sneak these out. Hmmm!
Whomever it was, they didn’t realize any profits from their endeavor. The safety deposit box where they resided was abandoned and the contents auctioned off by the state of California.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
I heard.........but I can't document where......that during the late 1960's into the 1970's......that Mint employees in San Francisco were spiriting out error coins by putting them into automobile oil pans,
This statement by me is hearsay. I can't say where it came from.
Pete
The oil pans were on fork lifts used in the Mint but serviced off site.
Where there's a will there's a way.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown