Off center matters

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  IkesT Posts: 4,282 ✭✭✭✭✭

  April 24, 2022 3:14PM

  @cmerlo1 said:
  Existing Forum Members- please chime in and add/correct anything.

  Here is a link to the US Mint's site outlining the minting process: https://www.usmint.gov/learn/production-process/coin-production

  With the exception of Step 6: Bagging and Packaging, what you think might be an error on the coin you have must occur in steps 1 thru 5. Anything that occurs in step 6 is considered damage and adversely effects the value of the coin, as does anything that happens after the coin has left the mint.

  Anything that affects the design on the dies and thus shows on the coins struck by those dies is called a variety. All coins of a particular variety should be identical as far as the variety is concerned, as they were all struck by the same pair of dies.

  For example, if you believe you have a 1969-S doubled die Lincoln cent, all aspects of the doubling must match all known 1969-S doubled die Lincoln cent examples. It's easy to find images of certified examples to compare to, or you can look here for confirmed examples: http://www.varietyvista.com/

  It is definitely possible to find both errors and varieties in circulation and by looking in rolls. Until you learn to recognize legitimate mint errors and varieties, remember that the reason some errors and varieties are valuable is because they are rare and there is demand by collectors for them. Until then, review the references above and attempt to determine why the coin ISN'T an error instead of just assuming it is because it looks different.

  @IkesT said:
  For descriptions and images of genuine Mint errors and die varieties, please also visit:

  https://www.error-ref.com/

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  dcarr Posts: 10,053 ✭✭✭✭✭

  April 24, 2022 3:14PM edited April 24, 2022 3:16PM

  That is called "die erosion" or a "worn die". After striking a lot of coins, the surface of a die can become abraded, somewhat rippled, and distorted in a radial direction. Typically, any die that strikes a lot of coins will end up like that.

  An actual off-center strike occurs when the planchet is not centered on the dies when struck.

  Moonlight Mint

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  MarkW63 Posts: 1,532 ✭✭✭✭

  April 26, 2022 7:59AM edited April 26, 2022 7:59AM

  Off center does matter, but minuscule amounts doesn't seem to be considered sought after in the coin collecting hobby.
  The coin below isn't my coin, its a generic image!
  Something like this might strike the interest of someone who collects error Lincoln Cents, but I don't think it would be of any great value.

  

  "I Prefer Dangerous Freedom Over Peaceful Slavery"
  Thomas Jefferson!

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  MarkW63 Posts: 1,532 ✭✭✭✭

  April 26, 2022 8:15AM edited April 26, 2022 8:15AM

  Here is a Lincoln Cent that's only worth its weight in copper
  https://www.ebay.com/itm/403585718011?

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If3SXJeZzMQ

  "I Prefer Dangerous Freedom Over Peaceful Slavery"
  Thomas Jefferson!

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  In4apenny Posts: 298 ✭✭✭

  April 26, 2022 9:59PM

  @dcarr said:
  That is called "die erosion" or a "worn die". After striking a lot of coins, the surface of a die can become abraded, somewhat rippled, and distorted in a radial direction. Typically, any die that strikes a lot of coins will end up like that.

  An actual off-center strike occurs when the planchet is not centered on the dies when struck.

  Thanks for free lesson. I was running into this in this last box of Kennedy Halves, 1971s. Looked kind of like it slid to one side, thinner on one side wider on the other at the rim edge. Cheers.

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