Maybe I missed it, but how did this error occur? I read the entire thread and didn't see an answer given. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/post-your-best-favorite-error-coins.189220/#post-1237852
I really don’t have a favorite, here is a link to a few ERRORs we have that are graded / slabbed by PCGS: http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistry/Showcase.aspx?sc=2045 They can also be viewed in PCGS’ new “Digital Album”: http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistry/Album.aspx?showcaseid=2045 The 1983-P Kennedy half dollar that “Worn Out” posted looks very similar to the 1983-P Clashed, Counter-Clashed Obverse & Reverse Dies that we have in our set with the exception that ours has one extra set of Counter – Clash marks.
A MULE is the combination of dies from two different series, or that otherwise don't belong together, e.g., a Quarter obverse on a Dollar reverse. Some Mules have been deliberately created by mint employees such as the 1959 Lincoln Cent obverse with a wheat reverse.
I don't own this one, but I saw it for sale on eBay a while back. I'm not normally an error guy, but I'd jump on this one if I saw it again for the same price they were asking before.
Here is my best find. It's a 1984D 1DO-002. The coin was totally rotten and green. I saw part of IGWT showing and I immediately knew from the pics on Variety Vista, I soaked it in mineral oil then Xylene repeatedly, and used a fine brush. There is still a badly corroded spot above Liberty. I suppose the coin is not worth much because I cleaned it and the shape it was in. It is a URS 8 and very rare. It's the pride of my collection.
I love matched pairs! One of the coolest I saw was an ASE struck through a piece of plastic (unusual in itself to find an error on an ASE). The guy had both the coin and the piece of plastic.
How do mis-struck coins and other obvious errors get out of the mint and into the hands of collectors (dealers)? Especially something like the one below. Shouldn't the Mint's packaging operations catch these? They certainly can't be rolled. I suppose that if they go into bags and then to banks they'd be caught by the bank staff. What is the responsibility of banks at that point? Sell them to a customer, or return them to the Fed? I sense some double-dealing along the way because I've asked error dealers where they get their stock and they only say they get them from people who find them. It seems strange that the average person who comes across something like this would actively seek out an error dealer, rather than just keep them. I think the dealers must have a source somewhere between the mint and the general population.
You're right. I read about how error coins get out a while ago. My recollection is a little fuzzy, but I seem to remember they used to come from third party companies that would roll the coins before they were sent out to banks and such. It used to be these companies' contracts would allow them to sell error coins and split the proceeds with the Mint. The Mint stopped allowing this sometime around 15 years ago, which explains why many types of errors in recent US coins are so rare. As I said, my recollection is a little fuzzy, and I can't find the book I read this in, so anyone who knows the real story, feel free to correct me.
I have several favorite, this is one that I actually found in a jar of change...doesn't look like much, but, the fact that I found it makes it special and I think it's cool...