Hi, I came across a 1991 Canadian penny with a rotated die, I don't know how many degrees the rotation is because I don't know how it is figured out. Anyway now that I sound like a bone head the queen is upside down to the maple leaf when you spin the penny around in your fingers. Are these rotated dies worth much over face value. The coin is circulated so of course it is not in the best condition, I am curious though should I ever come across one that has not seen so much action and is in better shape.
If the reverse die is exactly "upside down" from it's correct position, the rotation is 180 degrees. If the reverse were horizontal when the obverse is verticle, it would either be 90 degrees (if the reverse was turned in a clockwise position) or 270 degrees (if the reverse was turned counte-rclockwise. Other rotations are figured on the same basis. You are describing "coin alignment" in which the sides are upright when the coin is turned over top-to-bottom. Most Canadian coins are in "medal alignment" in which the sides are upright when the coin is turned over side-to-side, but I believe that there some in coin alignment. You either have a normal penny, or one with 180 degree rotation, based on your description; but I don't know enough about Canadian coinage to tell you which it is.
hi, thank you for your reply, yes it is completely upside down to what it is supposed to be so I would then say it is 180 degree rotation. It is the same alignment as an American coin.
Just to be positive I looked at one of mine and yours is definitely a 180 degree rotation. It is not mentioned in the Charlton catalogue (they do list 7 other examples but no recent 1¢ coins) so I would say it is quite rare.
